Career Downloads

Episode Information Show NotesWhat does it look like to build a tech career when no one hands you anything?Jordan McConnell ran network operations at Langley Air Force Base with a top-secret clearance, supporting 100,000 people across 15 bases. When he left active duty, the civilian job market didn’t care about any of that. So he took help desk calls getting yelled at, rebuilt from the bottom, and funded every step of his own career development without waiting for an employer to do it for him. That journey eventually landed him at the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas – where HR wrote a solutions architect role specifically for him – and later at New American Funding as a Cloud Engineer doing FinOps work he discovered at a dinner and taught himself on his own time and his own dime.This conversation also goes somewhere most tech career podcasts don’t. Jordan has lived with Crohn’s disease for 17 years, had multiple major surgeries, and still shows up every day. He talks honestly about how chronic illness shapes the way he works, why it became a source of fuel rather than a reason to stop, and what he wants other people living with invisible illness to know.WHAT JORDAN DOES NOW:Jordan is a Cloud Engineer at New American Funding, a nationally recognized mortgage lender based in Southern California. He holds FinOps Practitioner and FOCUS Analyst certifications along with several Microsoft Azure credentials, and he pitched a cost-savings plan to the company’s CISO within 90 to 120 days of joining.KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS CONVERSATION:Self-fund your career when no one else willJordan bought his own certifications and paid out of pocket to attend FinOps X in San Diego. New American Funding hired him because he showed up with six months of self-directed learning they hadn’t asked for.Closed mouths don’t get fedHe told the managing director of a Las Vegas news station that his childhood dream was to be a weatherman. His 11-year-old son got a full behind-the-scenes tour. He told a CISO at an executive dinner he was always looking for opportunity. That conversation eventually became a job offer.Ego is not your amigoAfter being laid off from MGM Resorts, Jordan posted publicly on LinkedIn asking for help finding a job. A month later he had one. Humility opened the door his resume hadn’t.People don’t earn your respect, they lose itJordan starts every relationship with trust and respect given. He keeps his baseline consistent, treats the CEO and the janitor the same way, and lets people’s behavior over time tell him who belongs in his circle.It’s easy to do hard things when you’re always doing hard thingsLiving with Crohn’s disease for 17 years has meant daily symptoms and multiple major surgeries. Jordan describes it as fuel – when you’re always uncomfortable, doing uncomfortable things gets easier.TOPICS COVERED:• Discovering FinOps through a dinner conversation and pivoting on the spot• Self-funding certifications and attending a national conference out of pocket• “Closed mouths don’t get fed” – how speaking up created real opportunity• Air Force career: top-secret clearance, Langley AFB, supporting 100,000 people• Going from Staff Sergeant to help desk calls getting cursed at• Day 91 of a 90-day contract: badge stopped working, week before Christmas• Getting 5 Azure certifications in 12 months without waiting for permission• Being the only engineer at a table full of CISOs and CTOs• The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas: becoming the first solutions architect• Living with Crohn’s disease for 17 years and choosing not to use it as a crutch• Building your inner circle through discernment and honest feedback• Character vs. reputation: you don’t control one, but you control the otherWHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR:• Tech professionals who are self-funding their own career development and want to know it pays off• Veterans transitioning from military to civilian tech roles who feel like they’re starting over• Anyone living with a chronic illness or...

Episode Information Show NotesAt age seven, Juan Mazo told his family he would bring his mom’s family to America one day. By 26, he had done it. His mom hasn’t paid rent since 2015. And then he fell into depression.Juan built a tech career that most people would call a success from PC repair out of his aunt’s restaurant in Connecticut to hedge fund IT support in New York, to running the IT department at a clinical trials software company, to spending two years unemployed before landing at Veracode, where he has been a Solutions Architect Sales Engineer for seven years. But the most important parts of his story have less to do with titles and more to do with understanding what work is actually for, how to know what your time costs, and why hitting your goals does not automatically mean you know what comes next.This is a conversation about career development that goes deeper than certifications and job titles. Juan talks about how seven years in application security sales taught him to tie tech work to business outcomes, why he reads and learns constantly but always asks himself what he is actually doing with that knowledge, and what he figured out about his own happiness during two years of reading, failing, and starting over.WHAT JUAN MAZO DOES NOW:Juan is a Solutions Architect Sales Engineer, at a company that scans applications for security vulnerabilities. He works with organizations to understand their security risks, connect security initiatives to business outcomes, and build the case for why secure code protects revenue. He has been there seven years and genuinely loves the work.KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS CONVERSATION:Security Must Connect to RevenueYou cannot go to a business and say you need something because everyone else is doing it. You have to tie it to a revenue outcome, shorter sales cycles, more audits passed, more customers closed. That framing gets initiatives approved.Your Time Has a Dollar Value Per HourJuan learned this early: when he found out his phone calls cost $200 an hour, it changed how he thought about meetings, decisions, and where to spend his energy. He applies the same logic to personal decisions.Failing Businesses Was the Best Education He BoughtHe came out of two years unemployed with $20,000 in debt and businesses that all failed. He compares it to an MBA that cost $400,000 less.Knowledge Without Execution Is Just EntertainmentReading, watching videos, going to conferences none of it builds a skill until you do something with it. The gap between learning and doing is where most people stay stuck.Achieving Your Goals Can Break You If You Haven’t Asked What’s NextWhen the thing you have been working toward since childhood is done, you will not automatically know what to do. Juan hit that wall at 26 and spent two years figuring out what actually makes him happy.TOPICS COVERED:– Building an IT side business as a teenager from a restaurant bulletin board– How a recruiter’s coaching before his first interview shaped how he shows up professionally– White glove IT service at a hedge fund and what that taught him about people skills– Becoming the first sysadmin at a 10-year-old company with no security policies– Writing security policies from a NIST framework for the first time– Learning to qualify sales opportunities and stop wasting everyone’s time– The million-dollar DocuSign that went directly to the CEO and what it cost him– Resistance to cloud in 2015 and resistance to AI now – same pattern, different decade– How he thinks about the cost of a meeting and whether it is worth the combined hourly rate in the room– Reading 26 books in a year at age 26– Millionaire Fastlane by MJ DeMarco and How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie– The businesses that all failed and what he learned from each one– Achieving his childhood goal of bringing his family to America and falling into depression after– What he needs to be happy: a good internet connection,

Episode Information Show NotesKim Snyder graduated with three degrees in accounting, MIS, and entrepreneurship. Companies had no idea what to do with her. They weren’t ready for someone who wanted to do all three. So she built the career herself. Over the next 30+ years, Kim went from QA engineer to tech consultant to finance consultant to business owner, coach, and speaker. Her path wasn’t linear. It was strategic in some places and instinctive in others. She learned to read herself early knowing when she was bored, what she was actually good at, and how to ask for what she wanted before someone else decided for her. This conversation covers a lot of ground. How she navigated being a young woman in rooms full of skeptics. How she built a career through relationships she didn’t even call networking. How she still felt like a fraud 20 years in. And how she eventually figured out that holding back isn’t modesty, it’s selfishness. WHAT KIM SNYDER DOES NOW:Kim runs her own business focused on consulting, coaching, and speaking for corporate and small business clients. She also takes contract work in software test lead roles and mentors professionals through organizations like her local project management community and Startup Nevada. KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS CONVERSATION:Know your strengths then say them out loudIn corporate settings, people often stay quiet about what they’re good at. Kim learned that naming it clearly makes it easy for others to give you more of the work you actually want. The title/money/company ruleEvery time you consider a career move, at least one of three things should improve: your title, your compensation, or the company you’re joining. If a lateral move doesn’t improve any of them, it’s not worth making. Build your network before you need itKim’s entire career was fueled by relationships. Not formal networking just staying in touch. She recommends 30 minutes a week, five messages to people in your field. Most of the time, just checking in. Imposter syndrome doesn’t expireKim felt like a fraud walking into client sites 20 years into her career. What broke the cycle was catching herself giving other women the exact advice she wasn’t taking herself. “It’s not about me. It’s about them.”This is how Kim got past shyness in high-pressure client situations and on stage. She stopped thinking about how she was being perceived and focused on what the other person needed. Coaching vs. mentoring know the differenceA mentor guides you over time, often informally. A coach helps you move faster in a specific area and typically charges for it. An advocate inside your company positions you behind the scenes. Kim used all three at different points in her career. TOPICS COVERED:• Three degrees, one career: accounting, MIS, and entrepreneurship• First consulting role and what drove her toward problem-solving work• Being a young woman in tech leading with experience to earn credibility fast• The “title, money, or company” rule for every career transition• Switching from tech consulting to finance consulting over company objections• Using your existing relationships to find your next role• Why she preferred smaller companies that let her do more• Staying close to customers and avoiding the promotion-away-from-the-work trap• Why 80% across multiple things beats 100% on one• Imposter syndrome after two decades in the field• Toastmasters and the path from shy athlete to keynote speaker• Shyness as selfishness – a reframe worth sitting with• Coaching vs. mentoring vs. having an advocate in your corner• Paying for your own conferences and development when your company won’t WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR:• Consultants at any level trying to figure out how to move from tech to business roles• Early-career professionals who aren’t sure how to advocate for themselves• Anyone who has ever felt like a fraud despite years of experience• Women navigating male-dominated technical environments• Professionals thinking about ...

Episode Information Show NotesWhat do you do when you get laid off at the biggest project management conference in the world? You work the room, go home, and build your own company.Parmjit Kaur did not set out to be a project manager. She wanted to be a Bollywood actress, then a doctor, then a teacher, then a radio host. What she became was one of the more interesting career stories you will hear – born in Scotland, raised in England, claiming New Jersey, and now running her own consultancy in Las Vegas. Her path moved from retail sales at Macy’s to door-to-door fragrance sales to healthcare IT to program management, and eventually to building and leading the PMI Southern Nevada chapter as president before a layoff at the PMI Global Summit pushed her to go out on her own. This conversation covers the career, the setbacks, the framework she built from all of it, and the community she has grown along the way.WHAT PARMJIT DOES NOW:Parmjit runs her own project management consultancy, where she takes on project management contracts across different industries. She is also an active public speaker and the host of the Your Life Projectized podcast. At the time of this episode, she is managing a large website modernization project for a community-facing organization.KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS CONVERSATION:Sales teaches you something a job description never willThe law of averages is real. Parmjit credits door-to-door and healthcare IT sales with building the resilience and communication instincts she still uses in project management today.The kindergartner test for communicationWhen sharing information with a team or stakeholders, ask yourself: could a kindergartner walk away understanding what you just explained? It is not about being simple. It is about closing the gap between what you said and what they heard.Stop waiting for the annual reviewParmjit applied the Agile concept of sprint retrospectives to her own career – seeking feedback at regular intervals instead of waiting six months or a year to find out she had been doing something wrong.The CPR frameworkCommunication, Project Management, and Resiliency. Parmjit says these three things are all you need to revive any project, any business, or any season of life. The framework grew directly out of her real experiences: a house fire, a misdiagnosis, three car incidents in seven days, and a layoff she did not see coming.Community is built on authenticity, not utilityPeople can feel when you only want something from them. Parmjit’s approach to building a professional community is rooted in genuine interest, servant leadership values from her Sikh upbringing, and the kind of human connection that does not start with an agenda.TOPICS COVERED:• From retail sales to door-to-door fragrance sales and healthcare IT• The law of averages and learning to hear no without stopping• Growing up in a conservative Indian household and developing her voice• How a coast-to-coast healthcare speed dating program became her entry point into project management• What the PMP certification formalized that years of experience had not• Failing the PMP in 2018 while also training for a bodybuilding competition• Passing the PMP during COVID after a month of daily study sessions with people from around the world• Her first speaking experience at a HIMSS conference for 200+ physicians – and the accidental laugh• Five years on the PMI Southern Nevada chapter board, including serving as president• Why she applies Agile sprint retrospectives to her own career development• Building a professional community through authentic human connection• Getting a layoff call while standing inside the PMI Global Summit in Atlanta• Launching her own consultancy and speaking business three years ago• The CPR framework and how it was developed through real-life setbacksWHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR:• Project managers at any level looking for a more grounded perspective on the career path• Professionals in sales or c...

Episode Information Show NotesHe has spent 30 years in tech sales. He has almost never gone through a formal interview.Every major opportunity in Rodney Detrick’s career came from a relationship he had already built. Not a resume. Not an online application. Someone who knew him, trusted him, and opened a door. This episode is about how that happens – and what else Rodney has learned in three decades of selling, leading, and teaching others to do both.Rodney is the Executive VP of Growth at ConnectOn, a cybersecurity company with 40 years in the space. He has been a trainer with the Dale Carnegie organization for nearly 20 years. He started his career as a zoology major, found his voice competing on a college forensics team, and stumbled into tech sales through a family connection in the early 1990s. He has never looked back.WHAT RODNEY DETRICK DOES NOW:Rodney leads growth at ConnectOn, a Tampa-based cybersecurity company specializing in ransomware remediation, data governance, and compliance. He also actively trains professionals through the Dale Carnegie Nevada team, working with companies on human communication, leadership, and presentation skills.KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS CONVERSATION:Your network is your career infrastructureIn 30 years, Rodney has almost never gone through a formal interview. Every major opportunity came through a relationship he had already built.Giving people the leash is how they growIf someone is struggling, jumping in and doing it for them doesn’t develop them creating the conditions for them to figure it out does.Dale Carnegie works because it starts with people, not processMost training starts with tactics. Dale Carnegie starts with human communication, and after nearly 20 years as a trainer, Rodney keeps seeing the same thing: the principles stay in people’s heads long after the program ends.Common sense is not common practiceKnowing Dale Carnegie’s principles and actually applying them every day in how you interact with your staff, co-workers, and clients are two very different things.Scripting is about structure, not readingA professional magician taught Rodney this lesson. Performers who wing it often sound like they are, and the same goes for sales calls and presentations.TOPICS COVERED:• Going from zoology major to competitive speaker to tech sales• The family connection that opened his first tech door• Working at a rhino sanctuary in South Africa with his daughter• What his first mentor told him six months into the job• Walking past your predecessor on day one carrying their boxes• Moving from inside sales to management without the traditional path• Why giving people autonomy beats delegation• How to have difficult coaching conversations when you’ve already built the relationship• Dale Carnegie, why it’s different from other training programs• The “incident, action, benefit” formula and how to use it off the cuff• What amateur magic taught him about professional preparation• Why mentors matter at every stage – including year 60• How to approach professional networking without an agendaWHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR:• Early-career professionals trying to understand why relationships matter more than applications• Sales professionals who want to sharpen their communication and preparation• Tech leaders who were great individual contributors but are still figuring out the leadership part• Anyone who has heard of Dale Carnegie but never understood what makes it different• Professionals at any stage who want to think differently about building a networkCONNECT WITH RODNEY DETRICK:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodneydetrick/ABOUT CAREER DOWNLOADS:Career Downloads explores technology careers through conversations with professionals who share their journeys, lessons learned, and practical advice. Hosted by Manuel Martinez, each episode exposes listeners to different technology roles and helps them manage their own careers more successfully. New episodes release every Tuesday.

Episode Information Show NotesThe people you least expect are watching your career. Rhonda Lemke built nearly 30 years in technology on that truth.Her career started at Arthur Anderson, where she worked as a secretary and executive assistant. A mentor asked her at 19 to quit her job, move in with her, and go to college. That moment set everything in motion. From there, Rhonda worked her way through help desk management, 15 years at Accenture in IT consulting and change management, network operations at cars.com and Sears.com, director-level roles at Arthur J. Gallagher and Culinary Health Fund, and eventually Director of Cloud Infrastructure at a healthcare AI company and Caylent, an AWS partner. She earned her MBA at 52. She is now in real estate in Las Vegas.The through-line in every move was not technical expertise. It was the ability to read a room, communicate across teams, and earn trust before she needed it.WHAT RHONDA DOES NOW:After nearly 30 years in technology, Rhonda recently transitioned to real estate in Las Vegas. Her technology career spanned help desk management, IT consulting, network operations, service management, and cloud infrastructure. She holds an AWS Solutions Architect Associate certification and an MBA.KEY INSIGHTS FROM THIS CONVERSATION:Advocacy Works Both WaysThe people who moved Rhonda’s career forward weren’t her closest work friends, they were the ones quietly watching her work ethic from across the room.Soft Skills Are Harder to Teach Than Technical SkillsShe was hired into technical roles without the technical qualifications because hiring managers knew she could communicate under pressure and translate between engineers and the business.Ego Can Block Your Best OpportunityPride almost stopped her from taking a step down in title at cars.com, the one move that opened every director-level role that followed.EQ Is a Skill, Not a GiftShe learned to read rooms, manage tension, and stay observant growing up in an unpredictable home and didn’t realize until later that those were professional superpowers.The Machine Behind the LeaderLooking like the smartest person in the room has nothing to do with being the smartest, it’s about having the right people around you and knowing how to activate them.Never Disqualify Someone on Paper Credentials AloneThe Pizza Hut manager who couldn’t fill her Sears.com night shift on paper ended up being one of the best hires she ever made, because he was building Linux servers in his basement.TOPICS COVERED:• Starting in tech as a secretary with no technical background• Building a help desk and ITSM system from scratch in Lotus Notes• 15 years at Accenture – internal mobility and consulting work• Why soft skills open more doors than technical certifications in leadership• Overcoming ego to take a step down in title• Developing emotional intelligence through childhood adversity• What real mentorship looks like (Marine boss, Friday affirmations)• The polar vortex that triggered a move from Chicago to Las Vegas• Navigating organizational politics in unionized environments• Hiring the Pizza Hut manager who became a NOC team leader• Getting an AWS certification and MBA later in career• Why the people you least expect are watching your career• What the job market in 2025 actually looks like for experienced professionalsWHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR:• IT professionals trying to move from technical roles into leadership• Anyone considering a career pivot later in life• New managers who are still too technically hands-on• Professionals navigating politically charged organizations• Job seekers trying to use soft skills to compete in technical interviews• Anyone who has let ego or pride block a good opportunityCONNECT WITH RHONDA LEMKE:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhondalemke/ABOUT CAREER DOWNLOADS:Career Downloads explores technology careers through conversations with professionals who share their journeys, lessons learned, and practical advice.

Episode Inforrmation Show NotesWhat does it take to walk away from a 20-year career in hospitality and start over in tech at 38 with no degree, no certifications, and no hard skills? For Michael Steffen, it started with a jiu-jitsu training partner telling him he was miserable and handing him a Security+ study guide. He passed. He volunteered at DEF CON for three years. He’s now in targeted account sales in cybersecurity and he got there without ever applying for a single tech job.Michael spent two decades inside some of the biggest casino openings in Las Vegas history. The Wynn, Cromwell, Linq, and the Palms and opened a $7 billion resort in the Philippines while raising a daughter by FaceTime. He sat in boardrooms with the Fertitta brothers and learned what it means to know your numbers and say the hard thing when everyone else is hedging. When the Palms closed and left him without direction, he didn’t go back to hospitality. He went to TryHackMe instead.In this conversation, Michael breaks down the skills that actually got him into tech: how meeting people where they are became the throughline of his entire career, why organic relationships built over years beat transactional networking every time, and why volunteering at DEF CON opened every door a resume never could. He’s blunt about what the industry is missing. Tech has no shortage of people who can execute. It’s short on people who can actually talk to other people.TOPICS COVERED:• Growing up between Connecticut, California, and Las Vegas• Learning HTML and building online communities as a teen• 20 years in Las Vegas hospitality: restaurants, the Wynn, Caesars properties• First leadership role and the hard lessons of ownership• Three years opening a $7 billion casino resort in the Philippines• Raising a daughter by FaceTime• The Fertitta boardroom and what it demands• Why the Palms closing pushed him into tech• Getting Security+ and TryHackMe at 38• Volunteering at DEF CON with CTQ• The difference between organic relationships and transactional networking• Soft skills as a career advantage in tech sales• Parting advice: do the hard thing even when you can’t see the payoffWHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR:• Anyone considering a career pivot into tech from a non-technical background• Hospitality, marketing, or sales professionals wondering if their skills transfer• Tech professionals who know they need to get better at the human side of the job• Career changers in their 30s or 40s who think they’ve missed their window• Anyone who has ever felt like the wrong person in the right roomCONNECT WITH MICHAEL STEFFEN:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/myksteffen/ABOUT CAREER DOWNLOADS:Career Downloads explores technology careers through conversations with professionals who share their journeys, lessons learned, and practical advice. Hosted by Manuel Martinez, each episode exposes listeners to different technology roles and helps them manage their own careers more successfully. New episodes release every Tuesday.Connect with Career Downloads:Website: https://careerdownloads.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/career-downloadsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@careerdownloadsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@careerdownloadsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/careerdownloadsFaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Career-Downloads/61561144531249 TranscriptionManuel Martinez: Welcome, everyone. My name is Manuel Martinez And this is another episode of Career Downloads, Where each episode I Basically hit the Refresh button, bring on a different guest to learn more about their background and their experiences to help you uncover any actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. So for today, I have with me Michael Steffen. He and I have met through a… mutual– I’m going to say colleague Through Dennis, who I’ve had on the show actually right before this one. I got to talk to Michael,

Episode Information Show NotesHis father got tired of him playing video games. So he threw a book at him. Thirty years later, Dennis Moriarity is Chief Information Officer at Link Technologies in Las Vegas, and the book his dad threw “Learn C in 24 Hours” started everything. Dennis grew up in LA and wanted to be a police officer. He applied to the LA Sheriff’s Department at 18 and didn’t get in. He started a business during the dot-com era, watched it dry up when the bubble burst, then went back to college at 20. He was so far ahead of his classmates that his instructor asked him to teach some of the courses. When he graduated, he landed an internship at Bank of New York, was put on the mainframe team despite being a C and C++ developer, and spent the next 11 years rising from intern to lead developer to production support manager to VP. He was still writing code six years into management. Then his wife wanted out of upstate New York. They moved to Las Vegas. He took a six-month contract at Credit One, then applied for what he expected to be a programmer job at the City of North Las Vegas, just to step away from management. Once he got there, he saw problems everywhere. He told a director he was interested in the IT Director role. The city opened it. He applied and got it. What came next tested everything he thought he knew about leading. WHAT DENNIS MORIARITY DOES NOW:Dennis is Chief Information Officer at Link Technologies in Las Vegas. He helps organizations identify technology gaps and execute projects, and serves as internal CIO for Link advising on technologies to grow the business and better serve clients. KEY INSIGHTS FROM THIS CONVERSATION:Your title doesn’t make you a leaderDennis spent years in management before saying it plainly: “Your position doesn’t make you a leader.” He talks about what leadership actually means — helping people get to a better version of their lives, asking what they want to be when they grow up even if they’re 50, and treating people the way you want to be treated. “I’m not here just to lead the city. I’m here to lead every individual underneath me to a better life.” Being overqualified is not the same as having nothing to learnAt Bank of New York, Dennis was put on the mainframe team even though his background was in C and C++. He thought it was a poor fit. It turned out to be one of the most valuable experiences of his career — not just for the COBOL and JCL, but for what the structured Wall Street environment taught him about planning, change management, and why institutional knowledge exists. Imposter syndrome is really about managing yourselfStepping into the director role at North Las Vegas, Dennis didn’t struggle with infrastructure or help desk or reporting lines. He struggled with himself. “That was the biggest challenge for me as the director. It wasn’t learning the infrastructure. It wasn’t learning help desk or managing any other people. It was managing myself. That was the hardest part.” Build trust by getting the right people in the roomDennis read “Speed of Trust” early in his leadership career and built his whole approach around it. He never asked vendors to come talk to him. He asked them to come talk to his team. “I’m just the pocketbook. That’s all I was. I was the final decision maker on if we were gonna spend the money or not. But my team was gonna tell me if it was gonna help us or not.” Stay quiet until you actually understand what they wantWhether in a client meeting or a team conversation, Dennis’s rule is the same: stay quiet. “The minute you open your mouth, all of your followers are gonna jump to whatever you just said.” He says when he does speak, it lands because Dennis doesn’t like to talk. TOPICS COVERED:• “If you wanna play these, then learn how to make them” the book that started a career• Writing his first email program and falling in love with programming• Wanted to be a police officer: applying to the LA Sheriff’s Department at 18• Going bac...

Episode Information Show Notes Bri Haralson wanted to be a chef. Sixteen years later she’s the Director of SLED at Cribl, one of the most connected people in the Southwest public sector tech community, and about to step into her next leadership role. Nobody mapped this out. That’s kind of the point. Bri grew up in Arizona, one of the rare native Arizonans. She started college for culinary studies at Northern Arizona University, transferred to Scottsdale Culinary, and then got a conversation that changed everything. Her restaurant manager pulled her aside and told her she wasn’t Mary Poppins — meaning she was confident, aggressive in a good way, and built for something beyond the kitchen. She didn’t fully understand it at the time. She went out, talked to people, and landed her first job as a sales training and hiring manager at a startup consulting company during the B2B SEO boom. She had never done it before. She acted as if. Within three years she had helped companies go from zero to seven figures and built sales floors from nothing to 75+ people. She started her career in leadership. From there she took a step back into an individual contributor BDR role — 120 cold calls a day — specifically so she could practice what she had been teaching. She was promoted to first-line leadership within two months. She went on to field sales, won Sales MVP, joined Gartner as one of their youngest field sales reps, and eventually found her home in SLED (state, local, and education) where she has been for 13 of her 16 years in the industry. She calls it her civic duty without civic pay. WHAT BRI HARALSON DOES NOW: Bri is the Director of SLED at Cribl, supporting state, local, and higher education clients in the West. She is also Secretary of SIM Nevada, Central VP of InfraGuard Arizona, and the founder of PubSec Tech — a community organization she built to connect public sector technology professionals across the Southwest without the vendor pitches. KEY INSIGHTS FROM THIS CONVERSATION: Do the work, but make it intentional Bri is direct: do the work is both the best and worst advice she has ever received. The problem is when people interpret it as heads-down isolation. “The work needs to be intentional and meaningful and you need to have influence over what you’re doing. It’s the extra time — the off the field time — that is really where the work is.” Sales is project management “Being an account executive is almost like being a project manager. Like a quarterback — you think he just throws the ball to the person that makes the touchdown. But it takes a lot. They’re running the plays, they’re building the trust with their team.” Bri runs her accounts like a business, coordinating engineers, services, and marketing toward the client’s outcome. Always Be Recruiting Forget ABC — Always Be Closing. Bri lives by ABR. “Always be recruiting. Recruiting for your next job, recruiting for your next hire. Every conversation that we have, every LinkedIn engagement — that is all building up for something in the future.” She believes if you build relationships intentionally over time, you never have to look for your next job. It finds you. Burnout is about misalignment, not volume Bri manages three board-level volunteer roles on top of a full-time director job and three kids. She doesn’t feel burned out. “The moment you start working for people who either don’t lift you up or where it feels exhausting — that’s the stuff I’m not going to do.” The burnout she has experienced in her career came from environments that weren’t aligned with her values, not from being busy. Lead without the title After not getting a leadership role at her previous company, Bri leaned into her volunteer organizations. Looking back: “That was the right decision. It really forced me to step up and look at the things that I was doing and grow as a leader myself. I don’t think I was ready.” She now coaches anyone who wants leadership experi...

Episode Information Show Note Ever wonder how someone goes from desktop support to protecting a professional sports team’s entire digital infrastructure? Andrew Ferrall’s career path shows that there’s no single route to landing your dream job in technology. As IT Security Architect for a professional sports organization, Andrew protects one of the most recognized franchises in professional sports from cyber threats. But his journey there involved building gaming computers in middle school, grinding through help desk tickets at Shuffle Master, taking on MSP work that stretched his abilities, and moving into systems administration before specializing in security. WHAT ANDREW DOES NOW: Andrew leads cybersecurity initiatives for a professional sports organization, handling daily defense operations, compliance requirements, and security evaluations for new technology rollouts. He collaborates with subject matter experts across networking, systems, and other IT specialties to keep the organization’s digital assets secure. KEY INSIGHTS FROM THIS CONVERSATION: Early Career Choices Matter More Than You Think Andrew’s time in desktop support at Shuffle Master taught him troubleshooting under pressure and how to work with different business departments. Those experiences still inform how he communicates complex security concepts to non-technical stakeholders today. Comfort Zones Kill Career Growth Several times in Andrew’s career, he chose challenging roles over comfortable ones. Moving to an MSP meant giving up job security, but the jack-of-all-trades experience built skills that became valuable later, even when the connection wasn’t obvious at the time. Your Career Story Lives on LinkedIn Andrew emphasizes building your professional narrative through LinkedIn. Every role, certification, and project tells recruiters what you’re capable of handling. That digital resume works for you even when you’re not actively job hunting. Imposter Syndrome Often Starts Earlier Than You Think Andrew shares how taking lower-level positions early on can create lasting doubts about your abilities. He learned that meeting even half the requirements in a job description is enough reason to apply. You’ll grow into the role. Learning Never Stops From help desk tickets to cybersecurity architecture, Andrew’s career demonstrates that continuous learning separates people who plateau from those who keep advancing. Early career is the perfect time to take roles specifically for their learning value, even if they don’t pay the most. CAREER PATH TIMELINE: – Middle school/high school: Building gaming computers, discovered technology passion – College: Studied business and information systems, networked actively – First job: Shuffle Master desktop support (learned IT fundamentals) – MSP work: Jack-of-all-trades IT (broadened skill set dramatically) – AGS: Systems Administrator (deepened technical expertise) – Professional Sports Organization: IT Security Architect (current role) TOPICS COVERED: – How building computers as a kid sparked lifelong tech interest – College networking that led to first job opportunity – Starting in desktop support and learning on the job – Moving from generalist IT roles into security specialization – Breaking into sports organization technology – Managing teams and working with subject matter experts – Building your career story through LinkedIn – When to leave comfortable roles for growth opportunities – Dealing with imposter syndrome at different career stages – Making career moves as long-term investments – Staying relevant through continuous learning WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR: – Anyone starting their technology career – IT professionals looking to move into security – People wondering if they should take a challenging role – Anyone dealing with imposter syndrome – Professionals building their LinkedIn presence – Career changers exploring technology roles

Episode Information Show Notes Sometimes the career you’re meant for finds you through the most unexpected path. Art Green III, Senior IT Workforce Programs Instructor at Tech Impact, joins Career Downloads to share his journey from college athlete to tech instructor helping disadvantaged students launch IT careers. His story is a masterclass in resilience, adaptability, and finding fulfillment through service. Guest Background: Art Green III spent his early years as a Division I athlete with dreams of professional sports. When a career-ending injury shattered that identity, he moved to Las Vegas searching for a fresh start. What began as a random job at a travel agency became the unexpected gateway to a 20+ year technology career. Today, Art leads Tech Impact’s IT Works programs in Las Vegas, teaching students from challenging backgrounds the technical and professional skills needed to launch successful IT careers. He also supports instructors across Tech Impact’s locations in Philadelphia, Delaware, and Nashville while developing cutting-edge curriculum including AI training programs. Episode Highlights: Identity Loss and Rebuilding Art opens up about the devastating experience of losing his athlete identity after a career-ending injury. Sports had been his entire life since childhood — there was no Plan B. The transition forced him to confront who he was beyond the field and find new purpose. Accidental Entry Into Tech Needing work after moving to Las Vegas, Art took a job as a travel agent. During downtime between calls, his natural curiosity led him to explore the computer systems. He discovered a backend coding interface and taught himself to completely redesign the booking process. That curiosity opened the door to his tech career. The Power of Being the Worst When Art started at Dell technical support, he was the worst performer out of 300 technicians. Rather than quitting, he committed to learning. This experience taught him that being the worst in the room is often the best position for growth — a lesson he now shares with his students. Finding Purpose Through Teaching Art’s first taste of teaching came when he trained new Dell hires while traveling the country. He discovered he loved teaching as much as troubleshooting. That seed planted years ago led him to his current role transforming lives through education. Nonprofit vs. For-Profit Education Working in for-profit education admissions left Art conflicted. He could spot students who weren’t ready for $80,000 programs but was told to enroll them anyway. The ethical struggle drove him to seek nonprofit education where mission aligned with impact. Tech Impact’s Mission Tech Impact’s mission, leveraging technology to create social impact, resonated deeply with Art. The organization serves dislocated, disenfranchised youth, many from difficult circumstances including homelessness. Watching students go from shelters to IT engineering roles at major resorts makes every day meaningful. Student Success Stories Art shares powerful examples of transformation: students who started the program homeless now working as IT engineers at Las Vegas resorts. The mentorship component brings industry professionals into students’ lives, creating relationships and opportunities that extend far beyond technical training. Authentic Recruiting Philosophy Art’s approach to student recruiting shifted from begging people to enroll to presenting genuine opportunities. He shares his background and knowledge without selling — creating space for students to make informed decisions about their futures. Key Takeaways: – Your painful experiences often prepare you to help others facing similar challenges – Being the worst performer is an opportunity for accelerated learning – Financial compensation alone won’t sustain you without meaningful work – Transferable skills from past roles apply in unexpected ways

Episode Information Show Notes Mike Green didn’t start out planning a career in technology. As a passionate art student in small-town New York, he faced a tough decision: pursue a field he loved with uncertain job security, or pivot to the growing computer industry. He chose computers, and 25+ years later, he’s never looked back. Today, Mike manages the Digital Services Division for Clark County, Nevada IT, leading four distinct teams that deliver enterprise platforms and applications. His journey from a 16-week network technician program to IT leadership wasn’t smooth. It was filled with layoffs, career pivots, and hard lessons about professional communication. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: Mike shares the moment he realized art might not provide long-term security and decided to explore “a job in computers” (they didn’t call it IT yet). He got his start through a 16-week certification program that included a two-week unpaid internship and recruiting support. His first placement was at a telecom company that eventually became part of Verizon. One of the most memorable parts of Mike’s story is how he learned professional communication the hard way. His first few consulting deliverables at a shipping and transportation company were torn apart by his manager. He was using colloquial phrases, plain language, and missing the professional tone clients expected. The feedback stung, but it transformed how he wrote and communicated with leadership. Mike discusses the value of personality assessments, particularly DISC, which helped him understand not just his own working style but how to adapt to people with different personality traits. This skill became crucial when working with elected officials and diverse teams at Clark County. His commitment to giving back shines through his work with Tech Impact, a Las Vegas organization where he mentors students entering technology. His perspective: “If what I had then got me to where I am now, if I help them with this program now, they will be so much farther ahead of me by the time they’re my age.” KEY TAKEAWAYS: Career transitions require honest assessment of long-term security vs. passion Changing jobs every 3 years built diverse technical experience across systems administration, networking, and leadership Professional communication skills separate good technicians from great leaders Personality assessments (like DISC) provide valuable insight for working with diverse teams Keep your resume updated and practice interviewing regularly, even when you’re not looking for a job Community involvement and mentorship create lasting impact beyond your own career Thinking two steps ahead helps you spot opportunities before they pass Adaptability doesn’t mean losing your authentic self — it means understanding how to work effectively with different people Service to others provides meaning and helps you work through your own challenges ABOUT MIKE GREEN: Mike Green is the IT Manager for Clark County, Nevada, where he oversees the Digital Services Division with four teams focused on enterprise platforms and applications. Since starting in IT in 1998, Mike has built expertise across networking, systems administration, and IT leadership. His career has included roles in telecommunications, education, shipping and transportation, and public sector technology. Mike is actively involved in the Society of Information Managers (SIM) and serves as a mentor for Tech Impact, helping shape the next generation of technology professionals in Las Vegas. CONNECT WITH CAREER DOWNLOADS: New episodes release every Tuesday. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform to learn from technology professionals sharing their career journeys. The good, the bad, and the lessons learned along the way. TranscriptionManuel Martinez: Welcome, everyone. My name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads. Each episode I basically hit the refresh button,

Episode Information Show Notes The Week That Changed Everything Ray Freeman’s tech career includes a chapter most people would rather forget. After the 2008 financial crisis, Ray lost his job, his wife lost hers, and their six-bedroom Houston house became a financial prison. Eventually, Ray spent a week sleeping in his car while working contract IT jobs. Today, Ray is President and Chief Strategy Officer of RTS Premier Solutions, serving government agencies with AI and cybersecurity solutions. His story isn’t about avoiding failure, it’s about what happens when you refuse to stay down. What Makes This Episode Different Ray doesn’t tell the sanitized version of his career. He shares the real story: blowing through money faster than he made it, losing everything in five days, and the humbling experience of living out of his car with a George Foreman grill and a rice cooker from Goodwill. But he also shares how those experiences built the resilience, communication skills, and leadership mindset that drive his success today. You’ll hear about getting fired from AT&T for challenging leadership and then being called back by the CTO who vindicated him completely. Key Takeaways On Building Confidence: Ray discovered he was smart by accident. After struggling in traditional school, he took Microsoft certification exams on a whim and scored perfect. That moment changed everything. He learned that finding the right way to learn matters more than fitting into someone else’s system. On Resilience: When Ray lost everything, he didn’t call for help. He bought a styrofoam cooler, found a Dollar General, and figured out how to survive. One week later, he had his first paycheck and could rent an apartment. The experience taught him that survival builds character. On Leadership: Ray got fired from AT&T for going over his manager’s head to warn about a critical infrastructure problem. Weeks later, the CTO called him back, saw the problem immediately, and gave Ray’s company a contract. That experience taught Ray to speak truth to power, no matter the personal cost. On Communication: Ray studied DISC and Emergenetics, psychometric assessments that taught him to recognize how people think and communicate. He learned to modify his tone, pace, posture, and words based on his audience. This skill became the foundation for his ability to simplify complex technical problems for executives. On Goal Setting: When Ray was sleeping in his car, he broke survival into daily goals. Make it to Monday. Get through the week. Get the first paycheck. Find an apartment. This approach of breaking massive goals into manageable chunks became a career skill that serves him to this day. On Business Ownership: Ray used to think owning a business meant doing all the work himself. Learning that business ownership means assembling people, processes, and tools not doing everything personally, transformed how he thinks about scaling and creating opportunities for others. About Ray Freeman Ray Freeman is President and CSO of RTS Premier Solutions and co-owner of Win-Win Operations. With over 20 years in technology and a background that includes music production with major artists, Ray brings a unique perspective to tech leadership. His journey from sleeping in his car to leading government technology contracts proves that setbacks don’t define your career, your response to them does. Connect with Ray on LinkedIn or learn more about RTS Premier Solutions. Listen & Subscribe Career Downloads releases new episodes every week. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss a conversation. Visit careerdownloads.com for more episodes and resources. TranscriptionManuel Martinez: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads. For each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to learn more about their background and their experiences to h...

Episode Information Show NotesWhat happens when a drummer who played for 10,000 people realizes the music business won’t pay the bills? Rebekah Panepinto shares her unconventional journey from Nashville musician to successful Account Executive, proving that your next career move might come from the least expected place.This conversation goes deep on how relationships trump resumes, why being visible matters more than being perfect, and how asking better questions opens doors you didn’t know existed.Guest BackgroundRebekah Panepinto is an Account Executive and podcast host who has built her sales career by prioritizing authentic relationships over transactions. After pursuing music as a drummer for Grammy-nominated artists, she pivoted to tech sales where she discovered her talent for building partnerships. Her journey from healthcare IT to global software consulting shows how following trusted relationships creates better outcomes than chasing job titles.Episode HighlightsThe Pivot MomentRebekah earned just $150 playing drums for 10,000 people while getting paid more per day as a nanny. That moment at 21 forced her to Google “best jobs in Nashville” and discover healthcare IT—launching an unexpected career path.Zero to Sales HeroWithout any sales experience, Rebekah got recruited by a bandmate who saw intangibles in her that she didn’t see herself. He taught her the fundamentals while she brought natural relationship-building skills that can’t be taught.Female Drummer AdvantageBeing a female drummer in a male-dominated music industry prepared Rebekah for tech sales in ways she never expected. It taught her to believe she could do anything and to never back down from male-dominated spaces.The Everyone’s-a-Prospect TrapEarly in her sales career, Rebekah believed everyone on every flight and elevator was a potential customer. Learning to properly qualify prospects saved companies from bleeding money on bad-fit customers.Podcasting Beats NetworkingTraditional networking events create forgettable exchanges. Podcasting builds authentic relationships where people share vulnerable moments and create lasting connections.Continuous Learning PhilosophyGrowing up homeschooled taught Rebekah how to love learning as a lifelong journey. Now she dedicates an hour every morning to podcasts and audiobooks, absorbing insights from business leaders while working out.Key Takeaways1. Follow relationships, not job descriptions. Every one of Rebekah’s career moves came through trusted connections2. Personal branding is non-negotiable. Being visible and consistent makes you memorable when opportunities arise3. Quality relationships beat transactional wins. Nobody should dread your outreach because you only call for the check4. Learn from everything. Even finance podcasts teach you about newsletter strategies and content creation5. Going all-in creates mastery. Whether it’s scuba diving or sales, full commitment accelerates learningResources Mentioned– Tom Bilyeu’s Impact Theory Podcast– Ramit Sethi’s Money for Couples– Antifragile by Nassim TalebListen to the full episode to hear how Rebekah builds multi-channel touchpoints with prospects, why she’d choose relationship quality over quota-hitting, and what she learned from being capped at her first sales job.Released: January 13, 2026Subscribe to Career Downloads for weekly conversations with tech professionals sharing their career journeys. TranscriptManuel Martinez: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez, and this is another episode of Career Downloads, where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to learn more about their background and their experiences, to help you uncover any actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. So I’m excited for today’s episode. I have with me Rebecca Panepinto, and she is she’s an account executive, and she does a lot of, she also has her own podcast,

Episode Information Show NotesBreaking into a major tech company requires more than submitting applications online. Chelsey Bonilla shares how strategic networking, intentional preparation, and genuine curiosity helped her land an account executive role at Gartner, despite not having a traditional technical background.Guest Background:Chelsey Bonilla is an Account Executive at Gartner, one of the world’s leading research and advisory companies. A Las Vegas native and UNLV double alum, she built her career through operations, IT staffing, startup experience, and project management before finding her current role. She’s an active member of SIM (Society of Information Management) Las Vegas, where she volunteers and builds relationships within the tech community.Episode Highlights:Non-Traditional Path to ITChelsey’s career didn’t follow the expected route. Starting in operations and moving through various roles, she found herself drawn to IT despite lacking technical credentials. Her willingness to ask “I don’t understand” became a strength rather than a weakness.Strategic Networking That WorksWhen Chelsey became obsessed with working at Gartner, she didn’t just apply online. She researched everyone attending a SIM networking event, showed up early, and made genuine connections. That preparation led to a phone call about an opportunity that wasn’t even posted yet.The Power of PreparationBefore networking events, Chelsey researches attendees on LinkedIn, follows them strategically, and comes prepared with questions. She calls it “cyber stalking”—and it works.Surviving Seven Rounds of InterviewsLarge organizations have rigorous interview processes for good reason. Chelsey shares what it took to get through seven interviews at Gartner and why each round reinforced that she was on the right path.Key Takeaways:Ask questions freely, even when you don’t have technical knowledgePrepare intentionally for every networking opportunityBuild genuine relationships within professional organizationsResearch people before you meet themTrust the rigorous interview processes at companies you admireGive recruiters the information they need to advocate for youVolunteer and give back to your professional communityConnect with Chelsey Bonilla:https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseybonilla/Listen to Career Downloads:Available on all major podcast platforms TranscriptionManuel Martinez: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to learn more about their background and their experiences, to really try and uncover any actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. So I’m excited for today’s episode because I have with me Chelsey Bonilla and her and I have, over the last, probably close to a year now, have developed a both professional and personal relationship, just kind of getting to know each other. And ike I’ve mentioned before, there’s different areas of technology. So she didn’t feel that she works in technology, but she really does. So again, I just kind of want to help, I hope that her story kind of helps dispel some of those myths. And we get to learn a little bit more of how she’s navigated it, and hopefully find some things that will be helpful for you. So with that, I’ll go ahead and introduce Chelsea. Chelsey Bonilla: Thank you, Manny. I appreciate all the time and consideration and overthinking that you’ve allowed me to have over the last year. Manuel Martinez: And I appreciate that it kind of, it took time because you’re not the only person that, it takes a little bit to be like, “Well, wait a minute, why me? Why my story?” it’s not something that you do all the time, right? I don’t see you on podcasts all the time or kind of speaking out publicly. So I think this is good because I’ve had a couple of guests like that.

Episode Information Show NotesWhat happens when you stop planning your career and start asking better questions?Ruben Sarino didn’t set out to co-found an AI security company. The path from military kid bouncing between six countries to RiskHorizon AI co-founder included selling car parts, packaging California honey, working Apple retail, cold calling at CrowdStrike, and several stops in between.None of it was planned. All of it mattered.What You’ll LearnGrowing up in Japan showed Ruben what technology could do when it actually worked. Tapping cards to ride trains and buy things felt seamless. Visiting developing countries showed him the same problems without the same solutions. That contrast planted a seed: technology should solve real problems for real people.But Ruben didn’t study computer science. He studied business. His first exposure to entrepreneurship came through a car parts manufacturer where he learned the difference between pushing products and solving problems. Then came a honey business he fell into by chance, where terrible packaging met great product. Apple retail taught him how great companies operate. CrowdStrike as an SDR gave him front-row seats to hypergrowth and mentors who showed him what came next.Each stop built skills that transferred to the next one.Key InsightsOn Getting Started: “If you know too much, you will never start.” Ruben talks about the danger of over-researching and why ignorance sometimes helps you take the first step.On Career Direction: His annual self-check-in doesn’t ask “what do I want to do?” It asks “how do I want to feel next year?” From there, he works backward to figure out what needs to change.On Problem-Solving: Whether it’s car parts, cybersecurity, or AI, Ruben looks for the underlying problem before building solutions. Not everything needs AI. Some things just need better execution.On Mentorship: The CrowdStrike account executives who took time to show him what happened after the handoff shaped his trajectory. He didn’t formally ask them to be mentors – he asked good questions and stayed curious.On Risk: Being comfortable with change helps, but it’s not required. What matters is believing you can course correct if things don’t work out the way you planned.About Ruben SarinoRuben Sarino is co-founder of RiskHorizon AI. His career spans car parts manufacturing, honey business, Apple retail, cybersecurity sales at CrowdStrike, workforce intelligence startups, and healthcare technology. He’s comfortable with change, believes in transferable skills, and thinks most people overthink their next move.Connect with Ruben on LinkedIn:Subscribe to Career DownloadsNew episodes drop every week featuring tech leaders, CIOs, and professionals sharing their career journeys and the lessons they learned along the way.Website: https://careerdownloads.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/career-downloadsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@careerdownloadsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@careerdownloadsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/careerdownloadsFaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Career-Downloads/61561144531249 TranscriptionManuel Martinez: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez, and this is another episode of Career Downloads, where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest, to learn more about their background and their experiences, to really help uncover any actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. So I’m excited for today’s episode. I have with me Ruben Sarino, and him and I met at a networking event. We got to talking, just learning about kind of what he’s doing. He was asking me what I was doing. You know, we connected on LinkedIn, got to know each other, our backgrounds. And I think he has a lot to offer, and there should be a lot of good stories, a lot of good information that people can use, you know, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been in the fi...

Episode Information Show NotesSometimes the best careers are the ones you never planned. Aakin Patel went to school for geology. He spent years studying plate tectonics and doing computational modeling. The plan was academia. But grad school revealed something important. The academic life he imagined wasn’t the reality he wanted. So he pivoted. He took his Unix skills from graduate research and landed a job as a system administrator. Just temporary. Just while he figured out his next move. That temporary job turned into a 20+ year career in technology and cybersecurity. In This Episode: Aakin shares his journey from geology to becoming a cybersecurity consultant who advises governments and organizations on strategic implementation. He talks about working at Brookhaven National Labs, dealing with the unique security challenges of international scientific research, and building cybersecurity programs before the field had its current name. The conversation digs into the skills that matter most: problem-solving, communication, and the ability to bridge technical and business worlds. Aakin explains why being able to “dumb things down” is actually proof you understand something deeply, and why teaching others became crucial to his leadership success. You’ll also hear about the day his boss literally put him on a plane to management training, why he initially hated it, and how that moment changed his career trajectory. Key Takeaways: – Career pivots don’t have to be permanent disasters—they can become opportunities – Problem-solving skills transfer across completely different fields – Being the bridge between technical and business teams is a superpower – Learning to communicate complex ideas simply is a leadership essential – Technical burnout is real, and strategic roles can be the answer – Teaching others tests whether you truly understand something – Your ability to build and lead teams matters more than any single technical skill – Reputation and relationships open more doors than resumes About Aakin Patel: Aakin Patel is a cybersecurity consultant specializing in strategic implementation for governments and organizations. His background includes geology and geophysics research, Unix system administration, and cybersecurity leadership at national laboratories. He’s built security teams from scratch and helped organizations implement security programs at strategic levels. His mixed background gives him a unique ability to translate between technical complexity and business needs. TranscriptionManuel Martinez: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez, and this is another episode of Career Downloads, where each episode I basically hit the refresh button and bring on a different guest to learn more about their background and their experiences, to help uncover any actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. So for today’s episode, I’m very excited. I have with me Aakin Patel, and he is a consultant in the cybersecurity space. We’ve had some conversations about, you know, some of the things he’s done earlier on, how he kind of got into, you know, this field, and just the things that he’s done along the way. So I’m interested to kind of get to know him and how he managed his career a little bit more. And with that, I’ll go ahead and introduce Aakin. I appreciate you coming on, Aakin. Aakin Patel: Thank you, it’s good to be here. Manuel Martinez: So one of the things that I kind of start with all the guests is if you don’t mind telling me just a little bit about where you grew up, and then eventually kind of what led you either into the technology field, some people, you know, they fall into it later on. So maybe you started in a different career field. So again, just kind of a little bit of that background about yourself. Aakin Patel: Oh, yeah, so I grew up in the Northeast US in the New York, New Jersey area.

Episode Information Show NotesFrom Age 7 to MSP Owner: Simon Robert’s IT Journey Simon Robert’s IT career started earlier than most, at just 7 years old, he was already fixing computers his father brought home. Now, as President of Novbox in Las Vegas, Simon runs a managed service provider that helps businesses stay secure and operational. In this episode, Simon shares the honest reality of running an IT business. He talks about the stress of being a “one-man army” for years, why admitting “I don’t know” actually builds more trust than pretending to be an expert, and how communication saves client relationships when things go wrong. Episode Highlights: Starting Young Simon began his IT journey at age 7, disassembling and repairing broken computers his father brought home. This early hands-on experience gave him confidence and skills that would shape his entire career. The One-Man Army Problem For 10 years, Simon ran his business alone. He describes the impossible stress of choosing between multiple emergency calls happening simultaneously and why having a business partner changed everything. Honest Communication Wins When clients leave or when something goes wrong, Simon picks up the phone immediately. He shares why confronting problems early, even at 7pm, prevents bigger issues the next morning. Break/Fix vs MSP Model Simon explains the fundamental difference between being an IT firefighter and providing managed services. The MSP model eliminates billing drama and gives clients peace of mind. IT Specialization Reality Just because someone works “in IT” doesn’t mean they do everything. Simon uses the electrician vs plumber analogy to explain why IT professionals specialize and why that’s perfectly okay. The Vegas Tech Community After moving from Quebec to Las Vegas years ago, Simon has been actively building connections in the local tech community. He believes in turning LinkedIn connections into real friendships. Key Takeaways: 1. Admitting “I don’t know” and asking for help builds more trust than pretending to be an expert in everything 2. Communication is priority #1 – confront problems immediately instead of avoiding them 3. Having a business partner or team prevents burnout and enables business growth 4. The MSP model provides stability for both provider and client compared to break/fix 5. Building genuine relationships, both online and in person, creates lasting professional networks 6. Know your strengths and confidently refer out what you don’t do well 7. When clients leave, call them to understand why instead of hiding from the conversation About Simon Robert: Simon Robert is the President of Novbox, an IT managed service provider in Las Vegas. With over 30 years of experience starting from age 7, Simon specializes in helping businesses maintain secure and reliable IT infrastructure through managed services. Listen to learn how honest communication, genuine relationships, and knowing when to ask for help can transform your career – whether you’re running your own business or working in corporate IT. TranscriptionManuel Martinez: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads. Where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to learn more about their experiences and their background, to really try and uncover any actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. So I’m excited for today’s episode, I have with me Simon Robert. And this is a very interesting story, so him and I actually connected on LinkedIn, we actually met in person, you know, just in an informal setting, got to know each other, to know about each other a little bit more about his career. And he has kind of established his own business. So again, this is going to be something different than all of the other traditional ones where you kno...

Episode Information Show NotesTechnical skills land you the job. People skills determine everything that comes next. Yvette Durazo brings conflict resolution expertise to Silicon Valley tech companies. As a professional mediator and coach, she helps technical professionals navigate the transition into leadership roles. She teaches at universities and works with companies to build conflict intelligence throughout their organizations. This episode tackles a gap most bootcamps and certifications ignore. You can master Python, ace the PM certification, and still struggle when team dynamics turn difficult. Yvette explains why project managers need influence skills nobody warned them about, how unresolved conflict creates measurable health costs, and why companies should budget for these skillsets differently. Episode Highlights: Manuel and Yvette discuss the inevitable shift from technical work to people management. Most engineers and developers focus on hard skills early in their careers. Then they move into project management or team leadership and discover a new challenge: working with people they don’t directly supervise. Yvette shares her experience teaching conflict resolution in project management certificate programs. The programs teach scheduling, budgeting, and timeline management. They rarely prepare students for influencing stakeholders across the organization. That gap creates real problems when projects involve multiple departments. The conversation moves into conflict health. Yvette describes how prolonged workplace stress affects cortisone levels, cognitive function, and physical wellbeing. Employees operating in constant fight-or-flight mode can’t access creativity or innovation. Companies lose productivity and face increased absenteeism. You’ll hear why Yvette advocates for moving conflict resolution training from learning and development budgets into risk management. The training gets cut first when budgets tighten if leadership sees it as optional development. Treating it as risk mitigation changes the conversation. The episode closes with Yvette’s perspective on “bringing your whole self to work.” She suggests companies would benefit more from supporting employees to bring their healthy selves to work instead. Key Takeaways: – Technical expertise alone won’t carry you through leadership transitions – Project management inherently requires influence skills across reporting lines – Workplace conflict creates measurable physical and mental health impacts – Fight-or-flight responses eliminate creativity and productivity – Conflict resolution belongs in risk management, not just Learning and Development – Companies benefit from employees bringing their healthy selves to work About This Week’s Guest: Yvette Durazo works as a professional mediator and coach in Silicon Valley. She specializes in helping tech leaders develop conflict intelligence. Her work includes teaching university courses, coaching individual leaders, and facilitating organizational conflict resolution. She’s the author of “Conflict Intelligence Quotient.” Resources Mentioned: Book: “Conflict Intelligence Quotient” by Yvette Durazo Subscribe to Career Downloads: Get weekly career advice from tech leaders managing their own career journeys. Available on all podcast platforms. #CareerDownloads #ConflictResolution #TechLeadership #CareerDevelopment TranscriptionManuel Martinez: Welcome everyone. My name is Manuel Martinez, and this is another episode of Career Downloads. For each episode, I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest, to learn more about their background and their experiences, to really uncover actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. I’m excited for today’s episode, because I have with me Yvette Durazo. And she’s not what you would consider your tech… Your typical tech worker.

Episode Information Show Notes What happens when you combine curiosity, willingness to take chances, and genuine interest in people? You get Bob Leek’s career story – a journey from a small town in North Carolina to becoming CIO of Clark County, Nevada. Bob didn’t start with a master plan. He got an accounting degree, landed in retail finance, and complained about IT systems so much they moved him to technology. His path through retail (Egghead), pet healthcare (Banfield), Kaiser Permanente, and public sector roles taught him that relationships matter more than transactions, and that saying yes to opportunities often matters more than having all the credentials. Now leading technology for one of America’s largest counties – serving 2.3 million residents and 40 million annual visitors – Bob brings an approachable leadership style that breaks down the intimidation factor many feel around executive titles. He’s proof that you don’t need to have it all figured out from day one. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: Bob shares how growing up in Mount Airy, North Carolina (Andy Griffith’s hometown) shaped his values around community and connection. His entry into technology came from an accounting degree and working in finance at Egghead, where he complained about IT systems so much they moved him to the technology department. The conversation covers his progression through retail technology, pet healthcare (Banfield), Kaiser Permanente, and Multnomah County before making the jump to Clark County. Bob explains what it means to manage technology infrastructure for millions of people while maintaining his commitment to accessibility and relationship-building. You’ll hear about his philosophy on networking (hint: it’s not about collecting business cards), why he asks questions without worrying about looking uninformed, and how curiosity has been his career accelerator. Bob also opens up about being a “professional extrovert and social introvert” and what that means for how he shows up in his role. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Complaining about problems can lead to opportunities if you’re willing to help fix them Asking questions, even ones you think might sound basic, accelerates your learning Real networking is about genuine curiosity, not transactional exchanges Saying yes to opportunities matters more than waiting until you feel fully prepared Building relationships with people across industries creates career momentum Leadership roles don’t have to be intimidating – accessibility builds stronger teams ABOUT THE GUEST: Bob Leek is the Chief Information Officer for Clark County, Nevada. His career began with an accounting degree and moved through retail technology (Egghead), pet healthcare (Banfield), Kaiser Permanente, and public sector leadership at Multnomah County. Bob’s approachable style and commitment to community-building have made him a respected figure in technology leadership. CONNECT WITH BOB: Find Bob on LinkedIn or reach out through Clark County official channels. He genuinely means it when he says to come say hi at events. SUBSCRIBE & CONNECT: Career Downloads brings you conversations with technology leaders and professionals to help you manage your career with more success. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform or watch full episodes on YouTube. Join our community on the social platforms: Website: https://careerdownloads.com LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/career-downloads YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@careerdownloads TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@careerdownloads Instagram https://www.instagram.com/careerdownloads FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/people/Career-Downloads/61561144531249 TranscriptionManuel: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads. For each episode, I basically hit the refresh button and bring on a different guest to learn more about their background and their experiences,

Episode Information Show Notes Episode Summary: Vika Nevmyvakova’s career path looks nothing like she planned. She arrived in the US from Ukraine at 20 with law school dreams. No resources to make it happen. No network. No connections. She took whatever jobs paid bills. Call centers. Customer service. The work most people see as stepping stones, she turned into skill-building. That’s where she discovered she loved talking to people and solving problems. More importantly, she was good at it. Today she consults with pre-funding stage startups on sales operations. She helps technical founders who built genius products but struggle to sell them. Her career philosophy is simple: take shots you’re not ready for. Apply when you meet 60% of requirements. Ask questions that might sound stupid. Build expertise through curiosity. This conversation unpacks her immigration journey, multiple career pivots, working through language barriers, and why she tells everyone to stop waiting until they feel prepared. What You’ll Discover: Her path from Ukraine to US tech sales consulting Why call center work taught skills law school wouldn’t Sales consulting for early-stage startups and what founders actually need How curiosity became her biggest competitive advantage The confidence gap: men apply at 60%, women wait for 100% Real talk about working with an accent and language barriers Her interview preparation tactics using YouTube How to articulate value versus just listing product features Why following through on commitments builds credibility faster than anything else The “what’s the worst that can happen” mindset that changed her career Key Takeaways: Your career doesn’t need to follow the plan you made at 20. Vika’s path from law school aspirations to tech sales happened through a series of sideways moves. Customer service work taught communication skills and problem-solving under pressure that translated directly to sales. Curiosity beats credentials. She built her expertise by sitting through engineering demos, joining product calls, and asking endless questions. When she talks to customers, she can articulate value in ways others can’t because she did the work to deeply understand the business. The confidence gap is real and costly. Men typically apply when they meet 60% of job requirements. Women wait for 100%. The difference? Men who apply get hired. If you don’t take the shot, you already have a no. Following through separates average from excellent. Tell someone you’ll look something up and actually do it. Your credibility lives or dies on this one habit. Guest Bio: Vika Nevmyvakova is a Sales Consultant working with pre-funding stage startups. She helps technical founders develop sales strategies, implement CRM systems, and translate complex features into clear customer value. Born in Ukraine, she moved to the US at 20, pivoted from law aspirations to technology, and built her career by staying relentlessly curious and taking shots before feeling ready. Resources Mentioned: YouTube for interview preparation and skill development Mock interview practice CRM systems for startups Prospecting platforms for early-stage companies Listen to the full episode to hear Vika’s complete story and get her unfiltered advice on making career moves before you feel prepared. Subscribe to Career Downloads: New episodes every week featuring technology leaders sharing real career lessons. #CareerDownloads #SalesConsulting #CareerChange #TechCareers #StartupLife #ImmigrantStory TranscriptionManuel Martinez: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez, and again, this is another episode of Career Downloads. Where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to learn more about their background and their experiences, to help you uncover any actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career.

Episode Information Show NotesJazmin Diaz’s career story dismantles the myth that you need perfect credentials to succeed in technology. Her path from middle school administrative assistant to Chief of Staff at a cybersecurity company demonstrates how curiosity, authenticity, and strategic relationship-building can accelerate professional growth.Episode Highlights:Jazmin shares her unique background growing up between two cultures – born in California, raised in Mexico until age nine, then returning to relearn English and navigate American educational systems. This experience shaped her ability to connect with others facing similar challenges, particularly at-risk students during her time working in education.The conversation reveals practical strategies for career transitions, including how she researched transferable skills, leveraged informational interviews, and ultimately secured her first tech role through networking rather than traditional applications. Her willingness to start as a receptionist – despite years of experience – proved essential for getting her foot in the door.Key Takeaways:Networking authentically means building relationships without immediate agendaBeing uncomfortable signals growth opportunities worth pursuingSelf-advocacy requires data and strategic timing, not just confidenceStarting at entry level in a new industry can fast-track learning and advancementSalary negotiation extends beyond base pay to stock options, bonuses, and benefitsVulnerability and authenticity create stronger professional connections than perfectionResources Mentioned:Book: “Ignite Your Growth” by Jazmin Diaz (English)Book: “Enciende Tu Crecimiento” by Jazmin Diaz (Spanish)Flourish Learning and DevelopmentConnect with Our Guest: Jazmin Diaz is available for speaking engagements, workshops, and coaching through Flourish Learning and Development. Her book is available in both English and Spanish editions.About Career Downloads: Each episode features professionals sharing real experiences, setbacks, and breakthroughs to help you manage your own career with greater success. Host Manuel Martinez brings conversations that go beyond surface-level advice to uncover actionable insights you can apply immediately. TranscriptionManuel Martinez: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to learn more about their background and their experiences, to really uncover how they’ve managed their career over time with the ultimate goal to help you uncover any actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. So I’m really excited for today’s episode. This has really been eight, almost nine months in the making. So for those of you who are aware, back in December, I had Cynthia Hara on and a mutual contact of my current guest and Cynthia’s kind of got in contact with me, put me in contact with Jazmin Diaz is who I have on. We’ve had a number of conversations since that time trying to work out, so she’s not local to Las Vegas, just trying to find out logistically how this would work out. And I’m really excited because apart from the alignment of what she’s currently doing, what she’s done, kind of what the podcast is, in between that time, she has also become an author and she’s written a book, both in English and in Spanish, again, around career and professional development and personal development. So I’m really excited and this is gonna be a great one. So with that, I will go ahead and introduce Jazmin Diaz. Jazmin Diaz: Thank you so much for having me, Manny. Really glad to be here with you finally. Manuel Martinez: Finally, right. I mean, it’s interesting that when Sal kind of put us in contact, it took us a little while. We’d look back and it’s almost nine months that this has gone on and I think it happened at this moment for a reason, right?

Episode Information Show Notes Episode Highlights: Join host Manuel Martinez for an inspiring conversation with Rishma Khimji, the pioneering CIO of Harry Reid International Airport. Her story begins with constant movement – nine cities across two countries – and leads to managing technology systems that serve millions of travelers annually. Rishma’s career trajectory breaks conventional wisdom about climbing corporate ladders. Starting as a junior programmer debugging code for IBM, she discovered her true calling lay in making technology invisible to end users. Her public sector experience spans water utilities, police departments, and now aviation – each role teaching her how technology should serve humanity, not the other way around. Key Takeaways: Embrace Your Migration Story: Constant change teaches adaptability and opens doors you never imagined Failure Equals Course Correction: Build backup plans (A, B, and C) because your primary approach won’t always work Technology Should Be Invisible: The best systems are the ones passengers never think about Community Amplifies Success: Surround yourself with people who champion your growth Apply at 50% Qualification: Stop waiting until you’re 100% ready – most learning happens on the job AI as Augmented Influence: Use technology to enhance your capabilities, not replace your humanity Resources Mentioned: “Smart Brevity” book referenced by Manuel Airport common-use technology systems RFID baggage tracking implementation Public sector technology transformation strategies About Rishma Khimji: Rishma serves as Chief Information Officer for the Clark County Department of Aviation, managing technology operations for Harry Reid International Airport and four general aviation facilities. Her leadership spans over 25 years in technology, with experience transforming operations across utilities, law enforcement, and aviation sectors. She’s recognized for her innovative approaches to making technology serve community needs. Connect with Our Guest: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rishmakhimji/ Next Steps: Ready to accelerate your tech career? Subscribe to Career Downloads for weekly episodes featuring leaders who’ve navigated unconventional paths to success. Each conversation delivers actionable insights you can implement immediately. Transcription Manuel: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads. Where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to learn more about their experiences and their background, to really help uncover any actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. So I’m excited for today’s guest. I have with me Rishma Khimji and I have crossed paths with her close up, I’ve come close to crossing paths with her a few times. She’s worked on the public sector and when I used to work at VMware, covering public sector. So that’s kind of when I first became aware of her. I’ve seen a lot of what she’s done since that time. So I’m really excited to kind of get to know more about her and how she’s kind of continued to navigate her career. So with that, I’ll introduce Rishma. Rishma: Hi. Manuel: Hi, I appreciate you coming on and again, being willing to share your experiences. Rishma: No, absolutely, happy to be here. So, I know we haven’t always crossed paths face to face but there’s always been an intersection of acquaintances for us. And so I’m very excited to be here because those friends that have already been on this podcast have spoken very highly of you and so I feel very honored to be here. So thank you. Manuel: Thank you, I appreciate that. So if you don’t mind kind of telling people a little bit more about what your current role is and kind of some of the responsibilities that you have to manage. Rishma: Sure, so I’m the first chief information technology officer for the Harry Reid I...

Episode Information Show NotesEpisode OverviewAngie Cosca’s career journey challenges every assumption about traditional tech career paths. Starting with no formal computer science education, she taught herself HTML using Notepad, worked her way up through help desk support, and eventually became CIO of a major healthcare organization – all while staying with the same company for 23 years.Her story demonstrates the power of curiosity, relationship-building, and continuous learning in creating a successful technology career.Key TakeawaysOn Career Development:Formal education isn’t required for tech success, but continuous learning is non-negotiableTaking on responsibilities beyond your job description opens unexpected opportunitiesBuilding relationships across the organization matters as much as technical skillsOn Leadership:Understanding business workflows and pain points enables better technology solutionsCollaborative hiring processes involving other departments improve team dynamicsSecond opinions and diverse perspectives strengthen decision-makingOn Healthcare IT:Technology professionals in healthcare indirectly save lives by ensuring reliable systemsVendor relationships should be partnerships, not just transactionsAI implementation requires careful change management to avoid employee fearGuest BackgroundAngie Cosca serves as Chief Information Officer at Steinberg Diagnostic Medical Imaging (SDMI), where she oversees IT infrastructure, compliance, and security for 12 locations serving 550+ employees. The organization processes approximately 500,000 diagnostic studies annually, including MRIs, CTs, X-rays, and ultrasounds.Beyond her corporate role, Angie is President of ISSA Las Vegas and dedicates extensive time to mentoring through IT Works, a 16-week intensive program helping disadvantaged students transition into technology careers.Resources MentionedIT Works: 16-week intensive IT program for disadvantaged studentsISSA Las Vegas: Information Systems Security Association chapterPACS: Picture Archival Communication System for medical imagingUNLV Negotiation Course: Referenced for professional developmentEpisode HighlightsThe Power of Curiosity: How asking “why” and observing workflows leads to better solutionsVendor Partnership Strategy: Building relationships beyond transactional interactionsMentorship Impact: The long-term relationships formed through programs like IT WorksHealthcare Technology: Understanding the life-saving implications of reliable IT systemsConnect with AngieLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angeline-cosca/ISSA Las Vegas: https://www.lvissa.org/ TranscriptionManuel Martinez: Welcome everyone. My name is Manuel Martinez, and this is another episode of Career Downloads. Where each episode, I basically hit the refresh button and bring on a different guest to learn more about their background and their experiences, to really help uncover any actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. I’m excited for today’s episode because I have with me Angie Cosca, and she is a CIO here in, for the medical industry within Las Vegas. So again, I’m very excited to kind of understand her journey, where she kind of started and eventually how she ended up in her role. So with that, I’ll introduce Angie. Hi Angie. Angie Cosca: Hi, thank you for having me, Manuel. Manuel Martinez: I appreciate you coming on and being open to kind of sharing your experiences. Angie Cosca: I’m excited. Manuel Martinez: So if you don’t mind, can you just kind of tell us what your current role is and just some of the roles and responsibilities that you fulfill on a daily basis for the most part? Angie Cosca: Sure. So I am currently the Chief Information Officer for Steinberg Diagnostic Medical Imaging. For some of the audiences that know what this is, it’s a radiology center. We have 12 locations here, and we handle about half a million studies a year.

Episode Information Show NotesIn this episode, Manuel Martinez interviews Dr. Doreen Galli, Chief of Research at TBW Advisors, about her remarkable career journey through the technology industry. Dr. Galli shares candid insights about her path from academic overachiever to holding senior executive roles at companies like IBM, Microsoft, AT&T, and DHL.Guest Background: Dr. Doreen Galli is currently Chief of Research at TBW Advisors, a media company and industry analyst firm. She has held CIO and CTO positions at Fortune 10 companies and was a platform architect for Microsoft Azure. Her career spans operations, consulting, and advisory roles across multiple industries including telecommunications, logistics, and cloud computing.Episode Highlights:Dr. Galli opens up about completing a triple major in college while being an All-American athlete and working multiple tutoring jobs. She explains how she convinced her registrar to allow course overloads by presenting a detailed plan and backup strategies.The conversation covers her time as the first postdoc at IBM’s Center for Advanced Studies, where she worked alongside technology legends like Paul Larson (father of SQL) and learned to navigate complex technical integrations under extreme pressure.She shares practical strategies for time management, including Benjamin Franklin’s time blocking method that she still uses today. Dr. Galli explains how scheduling everything – including relaxation time – creates more flexibility rather than rigidity.The discussion reveals the realities of working in technology, including how to handle the inevitable layoffs and reorganizations that come with change management roles. Dr. Galli emphasizes that business decisions aren’t personal and shares strategies for protecting your professional brand.Key Takeaways:Don’t accept other people’s limitations on your capabilities“Who knows what you know” matters more than who you knowMake requests easy for people to approve by doing the planning work upfrontMaintain interests outside of work to balance the ups and downs of corporate lifeInfluence comes from listening and understanding different perspectives on the same problemResources Mentioned:Benjamin Franklin’s time blocking methodologyThe movie “Short Circuit” as inspiration for continuous learningThe importance of having non-work activities for emotional balanceThis episode offers valuable insights for anyone looking to advance their technology career, handle workplace challenges professionally, or develop stronger leadership and communication skills. TranscriptionManuel Martinez: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads. Where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to really learn more about their career and the way that they’ve been able to manage it over time, to really uncover any lessons or ideas that you can use as you’re managing your own career. So for today’s episode, I’m pretty excited. I have with me Dr. Doreen Galli. We met at Toastmasters and the conversation has gone well. She had talked a little bit about some of the work that she has done, looked at her profile on LinkedIn. It’s very extensive. We’ve had some conversations since then. There’s no way we’re gonna be able to cover everything she’s done, but there are gonna be a lot of key lessons just in the short time that we’ve talked that I think are gonna be really insightful and important to cover. So with that, I’ll go ahead and introduce Dr. Doreen. Doreen Galli: Hi, nice to see you. How are you doing? Manuel Martinez: I’m doing fantastic. Thanks for asking. How about yourself? Doreen Galli: Good, thanks for having me. Looking forward, hope it’ll help some people. Manuel Martinez: And that’s ultimately the goal. So if you don’t mind, just as we get started, if you can just tell us what your current role is and just a summary of the roles and re...

Episode Information Show Notes Clinton Lee’s career journey reads like a masterclass in adaptability. What started as dreams of becoming a teacher transformed into a successful path through IT infrastructure, customer-side technical roles, and ultimately sales engineering leadership. Currently serving as a Director of Sales Engineering, Clinton shares the pivotal moments that shaped his career, from his first encounter with VMware technology to learning how to overcome introversion in customer-facing roles. Episode Highlights: Early Career Foundation Clinton’s path began at a technical certification school where he learned Windows, Cisco networking, and foundational IT skills. His willingness to take on any challenge—from teaching classes to running cable—set the stage for future growth. The VMware Turning Point Working at Toyota, Clinton witnessed his first vMotion demonstration while servers were being pinged. That “magical” moment sparked a passion for virtualization technology that would define his career trajectory. Transitioning to Sales Engineering Despite initial reservations about sales roles, Clinton made the leap to VMware as a vSAN specialist. He candidly discusses the challenges of being an introvert in a customer-facing position and how he developed the energy and presence needed for success. Leadership Lessons From individual contributor to team manager, Clinton shares insights about developing people, the importance of genuine relationships, and why helping others succeed became his driving motivation. Key Takeaways for Listeners: Technical expertise alone isn’t enough—learn to solve business problems Network authentically and build genuine relationships Great mentors can change your career trajectory Feedback is a gift—always ask for it and act on it Leadership skills can be developed with intention and practice Guest Bio: Clinton Lee is a Director of Sales Engineering with extensive experience in virtualization technologies and team leadership. His career spans customer-side IT infrastructure, technical consulting, and vendor-side sales engineering across multiple industries. Transcription Manuel: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads. Where each episode, I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to learn more about their career and their experiences, to really understand what they’ve done to be able to kind of manage that career over time. So I’m pretty excited about my guest today. I have Clinton Lee. So he, I know I’ve talked about this in the past, about me working at VMware. He is a big part of kind of how that happened. So, you know, we’ll touch on that, ask him a couple of questions and, you know, get to learn more about his specific career path. So with that, I’ll go ahead and introduce Clinton. Clinton: Hey Manuel: How’s it going? Clinton: It’s awesome, it’s awesome to finally be on here, Manny. Manuel: It’s been a while, so I know we kind of touched base a few times, you know, outside of the podcast. So I was pretty excited to, you know, have you on, talk about your journey and then just kind of that intersection of how we, you know, came across each other. Clinton: Yeah, I’m super excited to do it for sure. Manuel: So if you don’t mind, kind of tell us what your current role is and just a brief summary of some of your roles and responsibilities. And then eventually we’ll kind of work our way towards that. Clinton: Yeah, so I mean, you’re, I mean, this is probably not going to be anything new for you or maybe some of your listeners, but I’m a director of sales engineering. So I manage SEs, you know, they’re called solution engineers, systems engineer, sales engineers, like all kinds of names for what’s basically the same function, which is the technical, you know, in the weeds counterpart to your salesperson at a tech company.

Episode Information Show Notes Jeramie Brown’s career journey proves there’s no single path to technology leadership success. Starting as a radio and television broadcaster in the Air Force, Jeramie spent 24 years learning storytelling, communication, and adaptability while gradually building technical expertise. Today, he serves as Chief Information Officer for a Nevada public agency and President of the Las Vegas AITP chapter. Episode Summary This conversation explores how diverse backgrounds create stronger tech leaders. Jeramie shares his transition from analog broadcasting to digital technology, the leadership lessons learned through military service, and practical strategies for embracing change in fast-moving tech environments. Key Discussion Points Career Transition Strategy: How Jeramie deliberately started at entry-level after military retirement to build confidence and prove his technical abilities Change Management Philosophy: Finding excitement within scary changes to make adaptation easier Leadership Evolution: Moving from technical contributor to strategic leader who develops others Trust Building: Why owning mistakes publicly strengthens team dynamics Professional Networks: How organizations like AITP, ISSA, and SIM accelerate career growth Notable Quotes “Artificial intelligence is not a replacement for you or for anybody, it is an augmentation tool. It will help you do your job or do that task better, faster, more reliable.” “I wanted to be the guy that they could go to and ask questions and I can help guide them to the right answers.” “You have to find a way to convey the information in a story, right? Because that’s what people are gonna connect to.” Resources Mentioned Book: “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” by Patrick Lencioni Organizations: AITP, ISSA, SIM, Thrive, PMI Leadership Authors: Simon Sinek Career Advice Highlights Embrace Non-Traditional Paths – Diverse backgrounds bring valuable perspectives to technology roles Focus on Skill Development – Technical skills plus communication abilities create powerful combinations Join Professional Associations – These organizations provide networking, mentorship, and growth opportunities Lead Through Service – Great leaders develop their teams rather than showcasing personal expertise Build Trust Through Transparency – Admitting mistakes encourages team honesty and collaboration Connect with Jeramie LinkedIn: Jeramie Brown, CIO Professional Association: AITP Las Vegas Chapter Career Downloads explores diverse paths to technology success. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and visit our website for full episode transcripts and resources. #CareerDownloads #TechnologyCareers #ITLeadership #CareerAdvice Transcription Manuel: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads. For each episode, I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest, to learn more about their background, their experiences, to really uncover any actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. So for today’s episode, I have with me Jeramie Brown and I’m very excited, we met in a professional setting. He is in senior leadership, so I’m very excited to kind of uncover his path to that type of role and kind of what he’s learned along the way. So with that, I’ll go ahead and introduce Jeramie. Hi Jeramie. Jeramie: Hi Manuel. Manuel: I appreciate you taking the time to come on and share your experiences. Jeramie: Oh, I’m super excited to be here. I love things like this, like getting the opportunity to help people grow in their career and kind of figure out where they wanna go and like where they are now, where they wanna be and how to get there. Manuel: Fantastic. This is the perfect place to do that. (both laughing) So if you don’t mind kind of telling us what your current role and responsibilities a...

Episode Information Show NotesWhat does it take to go from a curious kid tinkering with an Apple IIe computer to leading cybersecurity at a major university? Vito Rocco’s journey offers a masterclass in career development, strategic thinking, and the power of continuous learning.Currently serving as Chief Information Security Officer at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Vito brings a unique perspective shaped by small-town Pennsylvania roots, military service, and the challenging world of higher education cybersecurity. His story demonstrates how curiosity, adaptability, and strong communication skills can transform a career trajectory.Episode Highlights:The Foundation Years: Discover how summer access to his teacher-father’s Apple IIe computer sparked a lifelong passion for technology, leading to building computers in high school and becoming the go-to tech person among peers.Military Transformation: Learn why Vito chose military service over traditional college, his initial role in artillery, and the strategic decision to reclassify into cybersecurity during the field’s early expansion.Skills Development: Understand the value of military training programs, the importance of certifications, and how hands-on experience with different cybersecurity domains shaped his expertise.Higher Education Challenges: Get insider perspective on the unique security challenges universities face, balancing academic freedom with protection, and why traditional corporate security approaches don’t always work in educational settings.Leadership Evolution: Explore the transition from technical expert to organizational leader, including the communication skills required to influence without authority and build support for security initiatives.Career Advice: Gain practical insights on the importance of IT fundamentals, the value of professional networking, and why understanding business context is essential for cybersecurity success.Vito’s journey illustrates that there’s no single path to cybersecurity leadership. Whether you’re starting in military service, traditional IT roles, or considering a career change, this conversation provides actionable insights for building expertise and advancing your career in the rapidly expanding cybersecurity field. TranscriptionManuel: Welcome everyone. My name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads. For each episode, I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to learn more about their background, their experiences, and really what got them interested in technology and how they managed to navigate their career over time. For today’s episode, I have with me Vito Rocco. So I’m pretty excited about this one. So he is a CISO for UNLV and we’ll get into that conversation but a lot of his background, just the way that he navigated and eventually got into that type of role, I think is very interesting. So I’m looking forward to this conversation. And with that, I’ll go ahead and introduce Vito. How’s it going? Vito: Great, thanks for having me. Manuel: I appreciate you coming on and being able to share your experiences. Vito: Yeah, absolutely. I’m glad to be here. Manuel: So if you don’t mind, just kind of summarize for us and kind of give us some of your background is kind of where you grew up. And then we’ll kind of follow that story into what got you into technology. Vito: So I grew up in Pennsylvania, little town north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. And I’m the oldest of six kids. I have five brothers and sisters. And so grew up in a big family. And I sort of always had an interest in technology growing up. These were the days before every household had a computer. But my dad was a teacher. And so he had a computer in his classroom and every summer he got to bring home the computer. And so we had this, it was an Apple IIe computer that was sort of my first intro to technology or IT.

Episode Information Show Notes What happens when the interviewer becomes the interviewee? In this special episode, John MacGugan flips the script and puts Manuel Martinez in the hot seat to uncover the real story behind Career Downloads. Episode Summary: Manuel gets candid about building a podcast from zero experience – sharing everything from his early days relying on a professional studio (the “production limo” era) to learning the hard way with broken equipment and terrible lighting. You’ll hear about the friendship with Jake Izumi that sparked this whole journey, the Women’s Empowerment Institute mentorship program that provided the inspiration, and why he chose to focus on real people instead of celebrity interviews. This conversation reveals the honest struggles of podcast creation: the learning curve, the costs, the family time sacrificed, and the reality checks that almost ended everything at the six-month mark. Manuel also shares his ambitious plans for taking the show on the road and expanding beyond the tech industry. What You’ll Learn: How a simple mentorship conversation led to 40+ episodes Why free learning materials only get you 75% of the way there The game-changing moment when Manuel invested in professional help How Toastmasters transformed his interviewing approach The real costs (time, money, relationships) of independent podcast production Future plans for multi-city recording and industry expansion Key Topics Discussed: The Jake Izumi origin story and Women’s Empowerment Institute connection Transitioning from professional studio to DIY production Learning lighting, audio, and video editing through trial and error The importance of intentional practice and professional consultation Building genuine relationships with guests across the tech industry Plans for on-location recording and industry diversification Episode Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction and role reversal setup [02:30] The friendship that started it all – Jake Izumi’s influence [05:45] From mentorship challenges to podcast solution [09:15] The “Honda Civic era” – DIY production struggles [13:20] Expectations versus reality after 40+ episodes [17:45] Learning the hard way about audience feedback [21:30] Why investing in professionals made all the difference [25:15] Future vision – expanding industries and locations [29:30] The dream of on-location recording trips [32:45] Call for audience feedback and suggestions [34:00] Closing reflections and what’s next Guest Information: John MacGugan brings his unique perspective as both a longtime listener and professional in the tech industry. His thoughtful questions reveal sides of the podcast creation process that even regular listeners haven’t heard before. Resources Mentioned: Women’s Empowerment Institute mentorship program Toastmasters International Episode 2 featuring Janetta Dunbar (Sony PlayStation) Professional photography and lighting consultation Connect & Continue the Conversation: Have feedback about the show or suggestions for future industries to explore? Manuel reads every comment and is actively planning future seasons based on listener input. Next Episode Preview: The new season launches soon with exciting guests from industries you’ve been requesting. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss these upcoming conversations. Transcription Manuel: So welcome everyone. This is Manuel Martinez with a mini teaser for the Career Downloads podcast. Normally I bring on a different guest, you know, I hit the refresh button, but this time we’re gonna do something a little different. It’s gonna be a big refresh where we’re basically, I have a guest that’s gonna go through and ask me some questions focused around the podcast and kind of how it came about. Cause it’s one of the things that, you know, he realized and has brought to my attention that a lot of people don’t know how this came...

Episode Information Show NotesWhy it matters: John MacGugan built a 25-year satellite technology career without a college degree, proving that curiosity and initiative can overcome traditional barriers.The journey: Starting in a phone company mail room in 1989, John worked his way up through voicemail systems, satellite installation, and business ownership before landing at DirecTV as a traveling engineer.Key turning points:– Fixed accounting errors in the mail room, making it profitable for the first time– Missed Amazon stock options in 1997 but learned about diversifying skills– Lost his satellite business in the 2008 housing crash, forcing a move to Texas– Became a LinkedIn content creator during the pandemicWhat you’ll learn:– How technical skills transfer across different technologies– Why “it’s not who you know, it’s who knows you” for networking– Four principles for sustained career success– How to bounce back from business failuresBreaking news: John announces his upcoming book on brand ambassadorship, combining his engineering expertise with content creation experience.Bottom line: John’s story shows how continuous learning, authentic relationships, and calculated risks can build a resilient tech career even without traditional credentials.Guest: John MacGugan, DirecTV Engineer and LinkedIn content creator, based in Kansas City, MissouriConnect: Follow John MacGugan on LinkedIn for satellite technology and professional development insightshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/john-macgugan/Career Downloads features real stories from technology professionals about career pivots, lessons learned, and practical growth advice. TranscriptionManuel: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads. Where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to learn more about their experiences and their career to help you as you’re managing your own career. For today’s episode, I have with me John MacGugan. John and I actually have never worked together. I met him when I was actually purchasing my first motorcycle. He was very knowledgeable, very helpful, so he answered a lot of questions. We spend a lot of time together, just understanding the motorcycle and through that process, we started talking about what we did for a living and eventually connected on LinkedIn and have maintained a relationship over that time. So I’m very excited. We’re gonna talk a little bit more about what he does, but he actually happened to be in town and I thought it was the perfect opportunity to bring him on and have him as a guest. So with that, I’ll introduce John. Johh: Hey, how are you? Manuel: Good. John: I’m excited to be here, thank you. Manuel: And I’m glad that you’re able to come on. We’ve talked about it a little bit before about kind of your experiences. So I knew just a short period of kind of what you’re doing now and what you were doing when I was working together, but I’m excited to kind of go through the whole experience. John: Before I do that, I’ll just say I’m a huge fan of the Career Downloads podcast. I love the interviews and the reason why I like it is because every time I listen to an interview, I learn something. And there are a bunch of podcast style interview shows that are out there in the marketplace where you walk away after an hour or two, you don’t learn anything. And I’m in a place in my life where I wanna learn skills, I wanna learn what other people have done in their lives, take those lessons, apply into my own life, my career, and you have a great platform to do that. So it’s an honor to be here, thank you. Manuel: Thank you, I appreciate it. And I’m glad that even somebody like yourself who’s kind of managed your career and is still finding value out of it. John: Yeah, absolutely. So I work for DirecTV, nine years, about the time this goes live, it’ll be nine years,

Episode Information Show NotesWhat if moving 18 times before your 18th birthday could become your greatest career asset? In this conversation, Jessica Parker reveals how early life challenges shaped an unshakeable approach to career resilience that’s kept her employed for over three decades.Jessica’s path from aspiring computer scientist to elementary educator to tech consultant illustrates the power of strategic pivots and continuous learning. Her story challenges conventional wisdom about career planning, showing how flexibility and adaptability often trump rigid goal-setting.This Episode Covers:Strategic Career Navigation Jessica discusses her approach to building multiple skill sets across project management, quality assurance, and business analysis. She explains how diversifying capabilities creates options during uncertain times and why having “Plan B, C, and D” matters more than perfecting Plan A.The Contract Work Advantage Contrary to popular belief about job security, Jessica makes a compelling case for contract positions as career accelerators. She breaks down the mindset shifts needed to thrive as a contractor and how to leverage temporary roles for skill building and network expansion.Learning as a Core Competency With a habit of reading 300+ books annually, Jessica shares her methods for rapid knowledge acquisition and retention. The conversation explores practical note-taking strategies and how to synthesize information from multiple sources for real-world application.Professional Relationship Building From Toastmasters to industry associations, Jessica explains how authentic networking creates career opportunities. Her “volunteer mindset” approach to workplace collaboration offers a fresh perspective on getting the best from professional relationships.Career Resilience Workshop Insights Jessica developed a custom workshop on career resilience for graduate students, distilling decades of experience into actionable frameworks. She shares key principles around transferable skills, strategic planning, and maintaining employability across economic cycles.Key Takeaways:Document your work thoroughly to avoid becoming indispensable in the wrong wayBuild relationships before you need them, not during crisis momentsDevelop skills that transfer across industries and rolesEmbrace feedback as a gift for professional growthConsider contract work as a strategic career move, not a last resortGuest Background: Jessica Parker is a technology consultant specializing in cybersecurity and AI research. She’s currently completing her doctoral dissertation while running a consulting practice that helps small businesses solve complex technology challenges. Her career spans multiple industries including healthcare, finance, and technology, with experience in project management, quality assurance, and organizational leadership.Resources Mentioned:VitalSmarts “Crucial Conversations” seriesProject Management Professional (PMP) certificationToastmasters InternationalSociety for Information Management (SIM)Connect with Jessica: Find Jessica’s career resilience workshop and research publications on ResearchGate.https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-parker-pmp/Career Downloads explores the real journeys of technology professionals, uncovering practical advice for managing your own career with greater success. Host Manuel Martinez brings you authentic conversations about the wins, challenges, and lessons learned along the way.Listen on your preferred platform: [Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify] | [YouTube Music] | [YouTube]Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday featuring diverse voices from the technology industry. TranscriptionManuel: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads. For each episode, I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to really learn more about their career and their experiences with the goal to help uncover any actionabl...

Episode Information Show Notes What does it take to transform from a farm girl in rural Mexico to a cybersecurity solutions engineer at a leading tech company? In this episode, Estela Baca shares her remarkable journey of defying expectations, overcoming setbacks, and building a thriving career in technology. Estela’s story begins in Teziutlán, Mexico, where she grew up with her grandmother in a family where education wasn’t expected for women. After moving to Los Angeles at 15 without speaking English, she navigated high school, earned a computer science degree (while pregnant), and eventually found her way into cybersecurity through marketing and technical roles. Key Topics Discussed: – Early Life and Foundation – Educational Journey – Career Development – Professional Growth Strategies – Cybersecurity Transition – Life Lessons and Philosophy – Networking and Community Key Quotes: – “Action conquers fear” – “Every time somebody tells me no, something switches in my brain” – “I refuse to call it imposter syndrome. It’s the real deal syndrome” – “You can literally start as a marketer and end up as a VP if you understand transferable skills” Resources Mentioned: – “The DevelopHer Playbook” by Lauren Hasson – “Be So Good They Can’t Ignore You” by Cal Newport – Google Analytics and digital marketing certifications – Local networking groups and tech communities About the Guest: Estela Baca is a Solutions Engineer specializing in cybersecurity and log management. She leads employee resource groups, volunteers in her local tech community, and mentors others looking to break into technology. Her expertise spans digital marketing, technical account management, and cybersecurity solutions. Connect with Estela: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/estela-baca-07b02b6b/ Episode Highlights: This conversation offers practical insights for anyone considering a career change, breaking into tech, or looking to advance in cybersecurity. Estela’s story demonstrates that non-traditional backgrounds can become significant advantages when combined with determination, strategic thinking, and continuous learning. Whether you’re just starting your career journey or looking to make your next move, this episode provides actionable strategies for professional growth, relationship building, and turning challenges into opportunities. Subscribe to Career Downloads: Available on all major podcast platforms. New episodes release every Tuesday featuring real conversations with technology professionals who share their career journeys, lessons learned, and practical advice for professional success. Transcription Manuel: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to really learn more about their background and their experiences, to help uncover any actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. So for today’s episode, I have with me Estela Baca and I had followed her on LinkedIn, saw a lot of the posts, a lot of what she was doing, kind of dug into her background. Eventually I reached out to her and she was very gracious and decided to come on and share her experiences. So I’m very excited, she has a very interesting background, there’s a lot of challenges there and there’s gonna be a lot of good information and a lot of good storytelling for you to kind of listen and learn along the way. So with that, I’ll go ahead and introduce Estela. Estela: Hi, Manny. Manuel: Hello. Again, I appreciate you coming in and talking about your experiences and kind of how you’ve managed your career over time. So if you wouldn’t mind just telling us kind of what your current role is and some of those responsibilities and we’ll take it from there. Estela: Perfect, sounds good. Well, again, Estella Baca, I am currently a solutions engineer for a company that doe...

Episode Information Show NotesIn this episode of Career Downloads, host Manuel Martinez interviews Paola Mendiola, a promising digital forensics student at CSN who shares her journey into technology and cybersecurity.Episode SummaryPaola takes us through her tech journey, beginning with the transformative moment when her father brought home their first computer. This experience allowed her to connect with family in Mexico through video calls – a pivotal event that sparked her passion for technology. As a first-generation tech enthusiast, Paola discusses navigating educational opportunities, from her high school IT and cybersecurity program to her current studies at CSN.Throughout the conversation, Paola candidly shares her experiences with high school robotics competitions, her valuable training at Tech Impact, and how she’s building her professional network as a newcomer to the industry. She provides thoughtful insights about overcoming shyness, establishing a professional presence on LinkedIn, and the crucial importance of finding mentors who can guide your career path.What makes this episode particularly valuable is Paola’s fresh perspective as someone actively entering the field. Her story of recently speaking to young women in tech and her aspirations to become a cybersecurity educator highlight her commitment to helping others following in her footsteps.Key Moments in This Episode02:38 – How Paola’s tech journey began when her dad brought home a computer11:55 – Paola’s experience in high school robotics competitions16:24 – Getting hands-on IT experience through Tech Impact29:20 – Transitioning from shy student to LinkedIn networker44:30 – Speaking to young women about tech and coming full circle52:54 – Paola’s aspiration to become a cybersecurity teacher01:02:40 – Advice for people looking for opportunities in techConnect with PaolaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paolamend/Resources MentionedTech Impact: Non-profit organization providing IT trainingSIM Las Vegas: Society for Information ManagementNCWIT: National Center for Women in Information TechnologyNew episodes of Career Downloads are released every Tuesday. Subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform to catch all our career conversations with professionals across the tech industry!Join our community on the social platforms:Website: https://careerdownloads.comLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/career-downloadsYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@careerdownloadsX/Twitter https://twitter.com/@careerdownloadsTikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@careerdownloadsInstagram https://www.instagram.com/careerdownloadsFaceBook https://www.facebook.com/people/CareerDownloads/61561144531249#CareerDownloads #Cybersecurity #TechCareers #WomenInTech #DigitalForensicsReleased: May 20, 2025 TranscriptionManuel: Welcome everyone. My name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads. Where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to really learn more about their experiences and how they’re managing their career over time. With the ultimate goal to be able to uncover any actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. So I’m excited for today’s episode. I have with me, Paola Mendiola. And I’m bringing her on because this is gonna be a slightly different conversation. So most of the times I bring on different guests who are already in the industry, have been in for a while and are explaining the different things that they’ve used throughout their career. So the reason that this one’s exciting for me is I have seen a lot of the posts, a lot of the activities that Paola has been doing, you know, on LinkedIn. I reached out to her, we had a couple conversations and I thought it would be beneficial. She’s somebody that’s new and kind of entering into the field. So I think it’d be perfect time to kind of get the perspective from somebody new who’s starting in.

Episode Information Show Notes Episode Summary In this enlightening conversation, Manuel Martinez sits down with Jason Frame, Chief Information Officer at Southern Nevada Health District, to explore his remarkable journey from typing code from magazines as a child to leading critical technology initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jason shares candid insights about career progression in technology, developing leadership skills, and building successful teams. About Our Guest Jason Frame serves as the CIO at Southern Nevada Health District, overseeing IT operations for public health services across the Las Vegas area. His organization provides essential health services including restaurant inspections, EMT registrations, and primary care for underserved communities. During COVID-19, Jason’s team led technology efforts for contact tracing, testing, and vaccination management, demonstrating how IT leadership directly impacts critical public services. What You’ll Learn – How Jason’s early experiences with an Apple IIe and Commodore 64 sparked his interest in technology – The transition from programming to leadership roles and the skills needed for each – Why being a continuous learner is crucial for long-term success in technology careers – Practical approaches to communicating your achievements to management – Jason’s hiring philosophy: “I hire for fit and train for skill” – Strategies for stepping outside your comfort zone to accelerate career growth – Practical advice for job interviews and salary negotiations – Why networking and community involvement matter in technology careers Key Insights “If you never ask, the answer is always no.” – Jason shares why taking initiative and seeking opportunities is essential for career advancement. “Don’t reject yourself.” – Jason discusses why you should apply for positions even when you only meet some of the qualifications, noting that men often apply when they meet just 30% of requirements while others might wait until they meet 100%. “Be prepared to show that you’re a learner.” – Jason explains how continuous learning is the most important quality he looks for when hiring technology professionals. Episode Highlights – Jason’s journey from coding games on an Apple IIe to managing complex IT systems – The evolution of IT roles from specialists to versatile technology professionals – How to build relationships that advance your career – Practical strategies for developing both technical and soft skills – The importance of creating a culture where team members are recognized for their contributions – Resources for professional development and continuous learning Connect With Jason Frame Find Jason on LinkedIn to continue the conversation about technology leadership and career development. https://www.linkedin.com/in/framejason/ Join the Conversation What career challenge are you currently facing? Share your questions and experiences in the comments section. We’d love to hear how you’re applying Jason’s advice to your own career journey! #CareerDownloads #TechLeadership #CIOInsights #CareerAdvice #TechnologyCareers #ITLeadership #ProfessionalDevelopment Transcription Manuel: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads. Where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to really learn more about their experiences and their career with the goal to really understand how they’ve managed it and try and uncover any tips or strategies that they’ve used that you can go ahead and implement as you’re managing your own career. So for today’s episode, I have with me Jason Frame. So he is a CIO for the Southern Nevada Health District and I’ll let him go ahead and explain a little bit more of kind of what some of the roles and responsibilities that he has, you know, and exactly what they cover. I met him a couple of years back.

Episode Information Show NotesEpisode SummaryJeremy Jakubowicz’s path to becoming president of multiple AI companies is far from conventional. After struggling with learning disabilities throughout his education, Jeremy carved out a unique career trajectory through film, education, casino promotions, and tech software before landing in his current role. His story demonstrates how challenges can become stepping stones and how following the “natural path” can lead to unexpected success.In This EpisodeJeremy shares how his reading and writing disabilities shaped his approach to career development, emphasizing experiential learning and relationship building. From working as a pizza delivery driver to teaching film production, from MC’ing casino events to transitioning into software sales, Jeremy’s journey showcases the power of turning every experience into an opportunity.His decision to move to Las Vegas for $20,000 less than a competing offer exemplifies his philosophy of betting on long-term vision over immediate gain. Jeremy breaks down how he recognized cultural mismatches in his career transitions and eventually found his home at VizExplorer for seven years before moving into AI.Key Takeaways– Alternative Learning Paths: How Jeremy compensated for reading/writing challenges by becoming hands-on and experiential– Network as Currency: Building genuine relationships opened doors across industries– The Expiration Date Philosophy: Knowing when to pivot based on growth opportunity, cultural fit, or new challenges– Value-Add Mindset: Continuously bringing past experiences to enhance current roles– Cultural Fit > Money: Learning to evaluate opportunities beyond compensation– Natural Path Theory: Why forcing opportunities often leads to resistanceNotable Quotes“Don’t overthink things. No matter if it doesn’t work out, you’ll gain valuable takeaways from that experience regardless of its failure or success.”“Everything in life has an expiration date. The thing you need to figure out for yourself is when is that expiration date?”“I always found my path through relationships and building friendships that help open those doors.”Jeremy’s Career TimelineEducational Foundation: Struggled with learning disabilities; found alternative learning methodsFirst Steps: Pizza delivery, film school graduateTeaching Years: Film production teacher with side videography businessCasino Industry: MC, promotions coordinator, progression to managementThe Vegas Gamble: Took pay cut for better opportunity in Las VegasTech Transition: Software sales for casino player tracking systemsVizExplorer Era: Customer success role that lasted 7.5 yearsAI Leadership: Current role as president of multiple AI companiesConnect With Jeremyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-jj-jakubowicz-9848a431/Listen & SubscribeAvailable on all major podcast platforms. Subscribe to Career Downloads for weekly conversations with professionals who’ve navigated unique career paths.Episode Length: 1 hour 4 minutesRelease Date: May 6, 2025 TranscriptionManuel: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads, where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest, to really learn how they navigated their career over time, with the intention to really help uncover any actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. So for today’s episode, I have with me Jeremy Jakubowicz. We connected, we had a couple conversations and he shared a little bit with me about his journey, you know, the different triumphs and struggles that he’s dealt with. And I thought that was really interesting. So decided to ask him to come on and share his story with everybody. So with that, I’ll go ahead and let Jeremy introduce himself. So welcome Jeremy.Jeremy: Yes, good morning, thank you for having me.Manuel: I appreciate you coming on and being willing to kind of share your experiences.

Episode Information Show Notes In this enlightening episode of Career Downloads, host Manuel Martinez sits down with Sean Leu, a senior IT manager who transformed his career from working as an electrician apprentice to leading development teams in the financial technology sector. This conversation offers invaluable insights into navigating career transitions, developing leadership skills, and embracing continuous learning in the ever-evolving tech industry. About Our Guest: Sean Leu is a senior manager at a financial tech firm, specializing in ServiceNow platform development. His unique career journey spans over 15 years, beginning as an electrician apprentice in 2001 and evolving through various IT roles including help desk, systems engineering, database administration, information security, and ultimately management leadership. Sean’s diverse experience encompasses work with government agencies, casino technology providers, and now financial technology, giving him a broad perspective on career development in the tech sector. Key Discussion Points: – The Power of Career Pivots – Building a Foundation Through Curiosity – The Strategic Value of Continuous Learning – Navigating the Transition to Management – The Interview Coach Revelation – Leadership Development and Time Management – Choosing Your Next Career Move Actionable Takeaways: 1. Embrace curiosity as your primary career development tool – always ask questions and seek mentorship 2. Develop a three-tier learning approach: current role, future goals, and personal interests 3. Understand that career paths are rarely linear – be comfortable with being uncomfortable 4. Master the art of communication, including strategic pauses and structured responses 5. Treat everyone with respect regardless of title – from interns to CEOs 6. Focus on elevating others when in leadership positions 7. Align career moves with personal values and company missions as you progress Notable Quotes: – “You have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.” – “As a leader, you have the impact that is critical to their career. You can either make or break their career, and they’re trusting you with it.” – “I think having that vehicle to say, hey, that’s what you specialize in, no matter what career you go into is important.” – “Just talk to them like a regular person, be nice, be genuine, be honest, be candid, and I think you’ll go far in this world.” Resources Mentioned: – Simon Sinek’s “Start With Why” – CISSP Certification – PMP (Project Management Professional) Certification – ServiceNow Platform – Toastmasters (Referenced by host) – “The Power of Voice” by Denise Woods (Referenced by host) **About Career Downloads:** Career Downloads is your essential resource for actionable career advice and insights. Each episode features in-depth conversations with technology professionals who share their unique career journeys, challenges, and triumphs. Host Manuel Martinez helps uncover practical strategies you can apply to manage and advance your own career in the tech industry. Subscribe & Follow: – Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/career-downloads/id1757472125 – Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7IPpfSFWzQ2ELXzCZ9aYJS – Google Podcasts: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL_jJTpsVm2duJWqGaSqGQYfyFqmfrWQu – YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@careerdownloads – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/career-downloads – TikTok: @careerdownloads – Instagram: @careerdownloads – Twitter: @careerdownloads Support the Show: If you found value in this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share with colleagues who might benefit from Sean’s insights. Your feedback helps us continue bringing valuable career development content to the tech community. Transcription Manuel: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads,

Episode Information Show Notes In this captivating episode of Career Downloads, Manuel Martinez sits down with Alan Cunningham, a technology leader with a rich and varied background. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Alan shares his remarkable journey from working at age 12 to becoming the CIO for the State of Nevada. Alan walks us through his early fascination with electronics, building sound-to-light units for his DJing career despite being colorblind. His path took him through the British Army where he worked as a signaller, which sparked his journey into technology. After moving to the US in 1995, Alan quickly established himself in the tech world, running a computer store by his second day. Throughout his career, he’s worked as an IT technician, software expert, consultant, ISO for Washoe County School District, and ultimately CIO for the State of Nevada. What stands out in this conversation is Alan’s unwavering commitment to honesty and integrity, which has guided his career decisions even when they led to challenging transitions. He offers practical wisdom for those entering the tech field, emphasizing the importance of building a solid foundation of knowledge through help desk positions or working at small computer stores where problem-solving skills are constantly tested. Alan also shares valuable insights about critical thinking, continuous learning, and the reality behind trending technologies like AI and cloud computing. His straightforward assessment of these tools cuts through marketing hype to reveal their true utility. Whether you’re just starting your career or looking to advance to leadership positions, this episode provides a wealth of practical advice and inspiration from someone who’s navigated the ever-changing technology landscape for four decades. Listen to the full episode to learn how Alan’s commitment to quality work and straightforward communication has shaped his successful career in technology. #CareerDownloads #TechLeadership #CyberSecurity #CIOAdvice Transcription Manuel: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads. For each episode, I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to learn more about their career and their experiences, to really uncover any actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. So for today’s episode, I have with me Alan Cunningham. So we’ve crossed paths a couple of times, most recently at a couple of networking events. But when I first met him, he was actually the CIO for the state of Nevada on public sector. Kind of speaking to a couple of contacts that we have in common, they mentioned they had a very interesting story, interesting background, looking at his profile. So me and him have chatted prior to this and I feel like there’s gonna be a lot of good information and a lot of good stories just for people to kind of understand, you know, again, and just find areas that they can find, that you can find that would be beneficial in your own career and help you improve and progress as you manage that. So with that, I will bring on Alan Cunningham. Alan: Good afternoon, how are you? Manuel: Doing very well, thank you for taking the time to come and speak and really just share your experiences. Alan: Yeah, thanks for the invite. It’s always good to try and give back to the community in whichever way we can. Manuel: Definitely. If you could just start by just giving us a brief summary of kind of what your current position is and just some of the roles and responsibilities that you’re in charge of today. Alan: At the moment, I’m working with Cyroot.io You had Asal Gibson on your last show, who is the CEO. I actually worked with her at the contract position at Clark County School District about a year and a half ago. We both got along really well. So when my contract finished with the county, Asal asked if I’d become the CIO.

Episode Information Show Notes In this episode, Manuel Martinez talks with Nidhi Nayak, an Enterprise Support Lead with extensive experience across data warehousing, cloud architecture, and technical leadership. Born and raised in India, Nidhi shares her journey from studying mathematics to becoming an engineer, and how her passion for problem-solving drove her career choices. She walks us through the multi-stage interview process she navigated as a recent graduate in India, including how she prepared months in advance for campus recruitment. Nidhi discusses her progression from an ETL developer to various technical leadership roles, explaining why she chose to broaden her knowledge across multiple technologies rather than specializing deeply in just one area. Her approach paid off as she moved from on-premise systems to cloud architecture, ultimately achieving all 12 AWS certifications. Throughout the conversation, Nidhi offers practical wisdom on: Using certifications strategically to validate knowledge and build confidence Teaching others as a pathway to deepen your own understanding Developing presentation and documentation skills for technical and business audiences Creating effective boundaries and knowing when to say “no” to new responsibilities Setting clear goals with personal deadlines to stay accountable Balancing technical expertise with customer-facing responsibilities This episode provides valuable insights for both early-career professionals looking to map their path forward and experienced practitioners seeking ways to expand their impact beyond technical expertise. Listen to the full episode to hear Nidhi’s thoughtful advice on continuous learning, strategic career planning, and finding opportunities to grow even within comfortable roles. #CareerDownloads #TechCareers #CloudArchitecture #WomenInTech #CareerAdvice #ProfessionalDevelopment #AWSCertifications Transcription Manuel: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads. Where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to learn more about their background and their experiences, to really understand and uncover any actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. So for today’s episode, I have with me a coworker. Her name is Nidhi Nayak. So we’re no longer on the same team, but we did spend almost a year together, kind of interacting. I understood the different things that she had kind of had experience in. She was really kind of a lead in the group that I was a part of. She helped kind of guide and direct me in certain areas when I had certain difficulties. I looked at her background, I thought it was pretty interesting. I’ve seen her kind of give internal presentations and I thought she would be a good guest to kind of uncover and learn more about. So with that, go ahead and plug in and download the knowledge and I will introduce Nidhi. So welcome Nidhi. Nidhi: Hey Manny. Manuel: So I really appreciate you coming on and being open to sharing your experiences. Nidhi: Of course, thank you. Thanks for inviting me. Manuel: I know that we’re here in Austin, we’re here for a team gathering. So I mean, I was glad that when I reached out and you were open to kind of talking about this. So if you don’t mind just to start off, just give me a brief summary of kind of tell me what your role or current position is and just a summary of some of your roles and responsibilities so that people understand kind of what you do now. Nidhi: So hey, everyone like, currently I’m the enterprise support lead. So as an enterprise support lead, you are not just only the technical account manager, like you’re handling your customer, but then you are working with the people. So like we are, there is a pool of TAM, the cluster of TAM, whom you are managing. So managing in the sense like mentoring,

Episode Information Show NotesIn this episode, Manuel Martinez interviews Taft Singletary, a Senior Technical Account Manager with three decades of experience in telecommunications and technology. Taft shares his path from growing up in North Philadelphia to becoming a respected cloud professional.Starting with his education at DeVry University and early career at RAM Mobile Data, Taft worked on cutting-edge technology including the first prototypes of BlackBerry devices and Palm Pilots. He details his progression through roles at Cox Communications, Comcast, Scientific Atlanta (now Cisco), and beyond, sharing honest reflections on career transitions and leadership challenges.Throughout the conversation, Taft offers practical career advice: surround yourself with high achievers, build meaningful professional relationships, and take strategic control of your career path. His story highlights how combining technical expertise with people skills creates opportunities in the rapidly changing technology landscape.This episode provides valuable insights for technology professionals at any stage looking to grow their careers and navigate industry evolution successfully.#CareerDownloads #TechCareers #CloudComputing #Telecommunications #ProfessionalDevelopment #MentorshipMatters TranscriptionManuel: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads. Where each episode, I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to learn more about their background and their experiences, to try and uncover any actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. So for today’s episode, I have with me a coworker. His name is Taft Singletary and his background is in communications and telecom. So we did have a brief conversation when we first started working together and he kind of mentioned some of his background, I shared some of mine, and I thought it was a really interesting kind of how he ended up moving in here and some of the experiences and his expertise. So I figured I would bring him on and just really kind of dig in a little bit deeper and share that story with the rest of you. So I will go ahead and introduce Taft. So thanks Taft, I appreciate you coming on and being open and willing to share your experiences.Taft: I appreciate it, man. Thanks for inviting me. My first time on a podcast, but I do appreciate the mission that you’re trying to accomplish and yeah, can’t wait to share. Just my, you know, everything that I’ve done and hopefully it’ll help others. And again, hopefully it’ll just maybe motivate others to maybe look more into tech, follow their passions, things of that nature.Manuel: So if you don’t mind just kind of to start off, just give me a brief summary of kind of what your current role or position is and then just some of the roles and responsibilities of what you are in charge of today.Taft: Yeah, so I’m a senior technical account manager. I have multiple customers and my job is really to just help them maximize their cloud, their complex cloud journey. And they’re all in different phases of their cloud journey. Some are recently starting, some are just well-advanced. And my job is to really help them excel at operational components, their usage, their cost, seeing around corners for them from a security perspective, really just being a technical consultant for them and just making sure that they are maximizing, I’m gonna say their cloud investments. And that’s ultimately what my job is.Manuel: If you can now kind of give us a brief summary of kind of where you grew up and kind of what eventually got you interested in technology, so everybody’s different. Some people early on, some people later in life, but just kind of what sparked that eventual interest and that want to kind of pursue that area.Taft: Yeah, so I grew up in Philadelphia, a very poor section of Philadelphia, North Philadelphia.

Episode Information Show Notes In this powerful episode of Career Downloads, Manuel Martinez sits down with Asal “Vox” Gibson, CEO and founder of Cyroot and president of Cyroot Academy. Vox shares her extraordinary career path that began as an immigrant who didn’t speak English and worked in exchange for groceries. Vox takes us through her journey of determination and growth: becoming a RadioShack store manager at just 20 years old, transitioning to automotive sales, building a successful career in financial services, and eventually working in defense contracting with top security clearance. Throughout the conversation, Vox reveals the values and mindset that propelled her success: an unwavering work ethic, hunger for knowledge, and willingness to start from scratch in entirely new fields. She explains how each career transition taught her valuable skills that built upon one another, creating a foundation for her current roles leading both a cybersecurity company and a nonprofit providing free education to military personnel. Key moments include: The origin story of her military call sign “Vox” (meaning “voice of the people”) How she overcame language barriers and financial hardships after arriving in America Why critical thinking skills matter more than credentials in technology careers Her approach to screening job candidates for problem-solving abilities How she’s now paying forward the opportunities she received by creating educational programs for transitioning military personnel This conversation offers practical wisdom about career advancement, the importance of being teachable, and finding purpose through helping others succeed. If you’re looking to transform your career or seeking inspiration on overcoming obstacles, this episode delivers actionable insights from someone who’s mastered the art of career reinvention. Listen to the full episode to hear Vox’s complete story and learn how she’s now helping others find their own path to success. Episode release date: April 1, 2025 #CareerDownloads #CareerTransition #TechLeadership #CyberSecurity #VeteransSupport Transcription Manuel: Welcome everyone. My name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to really learn more about their experience and their background to try and uncover any actionable advice that you can uncover as you’re managing your own career. So for today’s episode I have with me Asal Gibson, also goes by call sign “Vox”. So there’s a, sounds like there’s a pretty interesting story around that so I’m excited to dig into that. So I met Asal at a networking event. I didn’t get much of a chance to kind of interact with her, you know, started to look at her LinkedIn profile, saw a lot of what she was posting, what she was doing. I looked at her background and felt that she would be an amazing guest to kind of bring on and just learn more about kind of what she’s done throughout her career and, you know, anything that she might be able to impart onto others. So she teaches part-time, she’s been a project manager, she also has started a non-profit, she’s, you know, was in the military, still helps out the military. So there’s a number of different ways that this conversation can go and I’m actually really excited because this, I just have the feeling that this is probably going to be a two -part series at some point. So with that I will go ahead and introduce Asal. Hi. Asal: Hi. Manuel: I appreciate you coming on and taking the time to kind of share your story and your experiences. So to kind of get started, normally what I ask people is kind of what your current role is and I know that you have multiple different ones so you can name them all, pick a couple and then just kind of a brief summary of some of the roles and responsibilities just so that people can get an understanding of kind of who “Vox...

Episode Information Show NotesIn Episode 28 of Career Downloads, Manuel Martinez interviews Dalien Ahiekpor, Senior Technical Account Manager at AWS, who shares his transformation from tech-curious teenager to cloud professional. Learn how winning a PC at a summer tech camp sparked Dalien’s interest in technology, why he chose computer science despite early struggles with programming, and how he navigated from network engineering to his current role.Dalien reveals the six-month job search that tested his persistence, his unconventional approach to landing his dream position, and the profound impact mentorship had on his career trajectory. He offers practical interview advice for standing out among candidates and emphasizes taking ownership of your career path.Whether you’re looking to break into tech, transition to cloud computing, or find effective mentors, this conversation provides actionable strategies from someone who’s successfully navigated the journey.#CareerDownloads #CloudComputing #AWSCareers #TechMentorship TranscriptionManuel: Welcome everyone. My name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to learn about their background, their experiences, to really uncover any actionable advice that they’ve used to manage their career that you can go ahead and implement and use as you’re managing your own career. So for today’s episode, I have with me a co-worker. His name is Dalien Ahiekpor and we work together. We looked at his background. He’s very passionate about mentorship and also like early career growth. So I thought he would be a great person to kind of bring on and I won’t dive too much deeper and I’ll let him kind of explain a lot of that for us. So with that, welcome Dalien.Dalien: Hey folks, thanks so much for having me.Manuel: No problem. I appreciate you coming on and, you know, being open to sharing your experiences for others and, you know, you know, helping somebody out who could probably find value in this.Dalien: Absolutely.Manuel: So if you don’t mind to start off, kind of tell me what your current role is and just a brief summary of, you know, what are some of your roles and responsibilities for kind of what you do in that role?Dalien: Sure. So as Manuel alluded to in the beginning of the call, I’m a senior technical account manager at AWS. We’re colleagues. I’ve been working at AWS for a few years now in various roles. As mentioned, most commonly or most recently, the senior technical account manager role are commonly referred to as TAM. As a TAM, we’re really responsible for, we’re seen as the customer advocate on the account team. So we’re an extension of enterprise support where we really quarterback a lot of the operational concerns that a customer might have, any issues they have with services, escalations, helping them understand a strategic initiative for their company and how we can help with that. That’s what we do here at AWS Enterprise Support.Manuel: So now, if you wouldn’t mind kind of telling me a little bit about some of your background and, you know, kind of where you grew up and eventually what kind of led you into, you know, wanting to pursue technology?Dalien: Yeah, absolutely. So I grew up in Toledo, Ohio, Northwest Ohio area, not too far from Detroit, if you’re familiar. Born and raised there. Went to college there as well, University of Toledo. Go Rockets. And I got into tech. That’s a very, that’s a good question as, you know, when I was growing up, one of the most profound conversations I remember having relatively young, probably a freshman in high school. I remember a conversation I had with my father and my parents both graduated. They’re, you know, graduate college graduates. They actually met in college and I was probably around that age, probably, you know, it was expected to go to college coming from the family.

Episode Information Show Notes In this episode of Career Downloads, Manuel Martinez interviews Jason Smith, who shares his remarkable journey from a 20-year career as an Air Force jet engine mechanic to becoming a Technical Curriculum Developer at AWS Training and Certification. Jason discusses growing up in a small Ohio town, his initial career working for a sewer rehabilitation company, and the moment that sparked his interest in joining the Air Force. Throughout his military career, Jason gained valuable skills in leadership, communication, and training that would later prove instrumental in his tech transition. Using the military’s SkillsBridge program, Jason secured an apprenticeship with AWS despite having zero prior knowledge of cloud computing. He candidly shares his struggle with imposter syndrome, certification challenges, and how he overcame them through persistence and collaborative learning. Key topics covered: Jason’s 20-year military career progression and the skills he developed How military training and instructor experience translated to curriculum development Navigating the transition from military to civilian tech career Overcoming imposter syndrome when entering an unfamiliar field The value of “getting comfortable being uncomfortable” in career growth Why asking “dumb questions” can accelerate learning and professional development Whether you’re a veteran looking to transition to civilian work, considering a major career pivot, or simply interested in tech career paths, Jason’s story offers valuable insights and practical advice for navigating significant professional changes. #CareerDownloads #VeteranSuccess #TechCareers #AWSCertification #CloudComputing #CareerTransition Transcription Manuel: Welcome, everyone. My name is Manuel Martinez, and this is another episode of Career Downloads, where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to learn more about their career and really try to uncover any actionable advice and tips that they’ve used as they’ve managed their career so that you can go ahead and use and implement as you’re managing your own career. So for today’s episode, I have with me Jason Smith. And I met Jason at my current place of employment at AWS, we happen to be working a conference together, kind of started, you know, just getting to know each other and learn a little bit more. And, I felt that he had a very interesting career path where he kind of, you know, fell into technology. And, you know, I’m excited to kind of dig a little bit more into that and have him share, you know, his trajectory and ultimately what landed him into the role that he’s in now. So with that, I’ll introduce Jason Smith. Jason: Thanks, Manny. Manuel: Appreciate you coming on and taking the time to really kind of share your story and your experiences to, you know, hopefully, you know, inspire or be able to help others along the way. Jason: Yeah, glad to be here. I actually feel a little honored that you invited me to do this. So yeah, I appreciate it. Manuel: So kind of what I’ve been doing with the guests is if you just kind of briefly tell me what your current role is, and just a brief summary of kind of what your roles and responsibilities are, and then we’ll kind of take it from there. Jason: Yeah, so currently, I work with AWS Training and Certification. So my role is a Technical Curriculum Developer. And I work primarily on instructor led training. So what that means is any of the courses that you’ve, so there’s, there’s, there’s going to be some courses on like Skill Builder, if you’ve heard of that, AWS Training and Certification has a platform called Skill Builder, and they deliver. So now they deliver digital training. So I believe like AWS JAMs are held on there where you can, it’s kind of a simulation to you try to solve a challenge, you know, that we could do hands on keyboard.

Episode Information Show Notes In this episode of Career Downloads, host Manuel Martinez interviews Adam Lopez, President of CMIT Solutions Las Vegas, a managed service provider specializing in cybersecurity for small to medium-sized businesses. Adam shares his fascinating career path that began without a formal tech background. Starting as a slot machine technician at Las Vegas casinos, he developed an interest in the databases behind gaming systems. Through curiosity and initiative, Adam built project management skills that propelled him through increasingly senior roles. Episode Highlights: Adam’s early tech experiences, from building circuit boards to a shocking lesson about electricity How he transitioned from hospitality management to technology through casino work The development of his natural project management abilities His career-changing experience working on cruise ships, which took him to all seven continents Navigating transitions between operations and vendor roles in technology Challenges of managing technical teams and handling workplace dynamics Making the leap from corporate roles to business ownership Practical advice on taking strategic risks and recognizing when to make career moves Adam’s journey demonstrates that career growth often requires stepping outside your comfort zone—sometimes even taking a step back to ultimately move forward. His story offers valuable insights for technology professionals at any stage of their careers. Whether you’re just starting in technology or looking to advance to leadership roles, Adam’s practical wisdom on building transferable skills, managing teams, and navigating the industry will help you chart your own successful path. Listen to learn how being open to unexpected opportunities and having the courage to take calculated risks can lead to a fulfilling technology career. #CareerDownloads #TechCareers #ProjectManagement #CyberSecurity Transcript Manuel: Welcome everyone. So my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to really learn more about their career and how they’ve managed it over time to really be able to uncover any actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. So for today’s episode I have with me Adam Lopez and I had met him at a networking event. So this was for SIM, so the Society of Information Managers. We had connected on LinkedIn. I had seen his kind of his career path and found a lot of interest in kind of the trajectory that he had. So I asked him to come on and he more than graciously accepted. So with that I’ll introduce Adam. Adam: Hey thanks for having me, Manuel. Manuel: I appreciate you coming on and kind of sharing your career trajectory. Adam: Absolutely. Manuel: So what I’ve been doing with my guests is if you just kind of give us a brief summary, just kind of tell us what your current position is and kind of some of the roles and responsibilities. Adam: Yeah, sure. So currently I am the president of CMIT Solutions. We are a MSP cybersecurity company. So we predominantly do it in the cybersecurity space, but we also do MSP, which is your help desk for small to medium-sized businesses. Typically our market is small to medium-sized businesses, but we also do government as well, as well as enterprise, you know, just depending on the level. We are a franchise that’s been around since the 80s. Kind of funny story about the franchise. CMIT used to stand for Computer Moms in Informational Technology. So it was a mom that started the business and she used to go around and fix people’s computers. And so when I heard about the story, I love the story. I love the everything about that. And I was like, how do I get involved? So now, you know, now I am the president here in Las Vegas and it’s been great. You know,

Episode Information Show Notes In this episode of Career Downloads, Manuel Martinez sits down with Fernando Reyes to discuss his remarkable journey from church multimedia volunteer to Systems Technician II at Clark County. Fernando shares how his technology journey began with a Windows 95 computer his father brought home, which sparked an interest that would later flourish when he volunteered at his church’s multimedia ministry. What started as helping with video recording evolved into a full-time position where he spent 11 years developing skills in production, IT support, and technical troubleshooting. Throughout the conversation, Fernando reveals how he strategically navigated career transitions with a clear end goal in mind: working for Clark County. Despite having no formal IT education or certifications, he built his technical expertise through hands-on experience, YouTube tutorials, and guidance from mentors who recognized his potential. Listeners will gain valuable insights on: Building technical skills without formal education Setting concrete career goals and working systematically toward them Finding and learning from mentors who can accelerate your professional growth Balancing family responsibilities while pursuing career advancement Developing communication skills to effectively present technical solutions to leadership Fernando also discusses the importance of character, loyalty, and commitment in building a successful technical career, as well as his future goals to develop his own business while continuing his work with the county. Whether you’re starting your IT career or looking to make a strategic career move, this episode offers practical advice on career planning and professional growth that you can apply to your own journey. #CareerDownloads #TechCareers #ITJobs Transcript Manuel: Welcome everyone. My name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads where each episode basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to learn more about their background, their experience, and really how they manage their career over time to be able to kind of pull out any actionable advice that you can go ahead and use as you’re managing your own career. So for today, I have with me Fernando Reyes and we’re going to talk about his career journey, which I think is pretty interesting. We’ve had some conversations before and he really had a goal in mind, like an end goal, and he just consistently worked to being able to get there. So he didn’t know what was going to happen in between, but again, he was okay with kind of being able to move back and forth and really adjust over time. So I think it will be a good experience and a good story for everybody to kind of listen to. So with that, go ahead and plug in and download the knowledge and I will introduce Fernando. Fernando: Thank you, Manuel. Thank you for having me. Manuel: Of course, no problem. Glad you were able to come make it and kind of share your background. Fernando: Yeah, of course, of course. Thank you. Well, like you said, you know, it’s been a couple of years with career in mind and goals in mind. As you know, as we get older, we start thinking, hey, what do I really want to be at? So about, you know, five, six years ago, I decided to have a goal in mind. I saw a position I liked and now I have that position, but it was not as easy as I thought it was going to be. Manuel: Yeah, it’s usually, it ends up that way. Fernando: Right, right. Manuel: So if you wouldn’t mind, just kind of, everybody can get an understanding of who you are. So if you just don’t mind telling us what your current position is and it’s just a summary of, you know, what your roles and responsibilities are. Fernando: Sure. So I am a Systems Technician II. That’s the formal position. I’m a glorified desktop technician, basically giving support to end users with, you know,

Episode Information Show Notes Career Downloads Episode 24: James McDuffie In this episode of Career Downloads, host Manuel Martinez welcomes James McDuffie, Senior Technical Account Manager at AWS, for an insightful discussion about building a successful career in technology. James shares his unique journey that began at age 8, running network cables through Silicon Valley office buildings for his father’s ISP business. Key Discussion Points: James’s early exposure to technology through his father’s business Building his first computer and developing a passion for tech The transition from college to his first professional role at GE Spending 17 years at GE and growing from software engineer to technical leader Moving to AWS and adapting to a new technology landscape The importance of mentorship in career development Understanding when to seek new mentors as your career evolves Balancing technical expertise with business acumen The value of admitting what you don’t know Notable Quotes: “I come to work to solve really cool engineering problems.” – James McDuffie “The opportunities are broader than you think.” – James McDuffie Guest Bio: James McDuffie serves as a Senior Technical Account Manager at AWS, where he helps enterprise customers optimize their cloud deployments. Prior to AWS, he spent 17 years at GE, progressing from software engineer to principal architect. His passion for technology began in childhood, leading to a career marked by continuous learning and growth. Follow us on all the social media platforms. Website: https://careerdownloads.com YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@careerdownloads X/Twitter https://twitter.com/@careerdownloads TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@careerdownloads LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/career-downloads Instagram https://www.instagram.com/careerdownloads FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/people/Career-Downloads/61561144531249 Connect with James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-mcduffie/ Connect with Manuel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manuelmartinez-it/ #CareerDownloads #TechCareers #AWS #SoftwareEngineering #TechnicalLeadership Transcript Manuel: Welcome everyone, so my name is Manu el Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads, where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to learn more about their career, their background, and their experience, to learn how they manage their career over time, with the ultimate goal to really be able to uncover actionable advice for you to go ahead and be able to use as you manage your own career. So for today’s episode, I have with me James McDuffie, so he and I currently work together, we’ve had conversations in the past, similiar to what the one we’re about to have today, and I’m very excited because he has had a very unique and interesting career. I like a lot of the things that he’s done, the way he approaches learning and kind of his career trajectory, so again, plug in and download the knowledge. So thanks James, I appreciate you coming in. James: Yeah, happy to be here. You know, we’re down here for re:Invent and might as well make it a double trip. Manuel: Right, take advantage of the time here. James: Exactly. Manuel: If you don’t mind kind of just telling me what your current roles and responsibilities are, and just kind of a summary of what that is, and then eventually we’ll work our way up to that place. Sure, so my current role is a Senior Technical Account Manager for Amazon Web Services, like yourself, and a part of that role is just helping some of our largest enterprise support customers in their deployments on the cloud. So I like to think of it as TAMs are kind of unique in my opinion on the AWS side because we’re less of just someone that’s there to help manage support cases and much more there to be operational architects on the existing infrastructure that you have.

Episode Information Show Notes In this episode of Career Downloads, Manuel Martinez sits down with Pradeep Pulipati, founder and CEO of Tropoleap, a cloud AI and cybersecurity company. Pradeep shares his remarkable journey from discovering ham radio in ninth grade to becoming a technology leader and entrepreneur. Key Discussion Points: Pradeep’s introduction to technology through ham radio and how it sparked his passion for wireless communication His educational path through electronics engineering and the transition to virtualization technology Experience as an early VMware expert when virtualization was still a novel concept Leadership philosophy developed through managing multiple engineering teams The importance of encouraging continuous learning and skill development in tech team Why solving business problems should be the focus of technology implementation His “T.O.P.” framework: aligning Talent, Organizational needs, and Passion The significance of transparency in leadership and team management Journey to entrepreneurship and founding Tropoleap Insights on career development and professional growth in technology Notable Quotes: “Their resume should always be up to date, as in not just updating the dates, but updating your skillset. Because you could very well be an administrator of something for 10 years, you wake up one day, and the technology might not exist that day.” “Art of the possible and fail fast, recover fast – those are the two cornerstones for how I go about my life today.” Connect with Pradeep: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pradeeppulipati/ Connect with Career Downloads: Website: https://careerdownloads.com YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@careerdownloads X/Twitter https://twitter.com/@careerdownloads TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@careerdownloads LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/career-downloads Instagram https://www.instagram.com/careerdownloads FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/people/Career-Downloads/61561144531249 #CareerDownloads #TechCareers #Leadership #CloudComputing #AITechnology Transcript Manuel: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads, where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to learn more about their background, their career, and just the different things that they’ve done to kind of navigate their career over time to really be able to pull out actionable advice for you to go through and use as you’re managing your own career. So for today’s episode, I have with me Pradeep Pulapati and he has a very interesting background. We have crossed paths through a VMware User Group. I’ve kind of seen some of the different areas that he’s been involved with and, you know, we’ll get into kind of what he’s doing now. He’s ventured on into his own business. So I think these are all things that are really interesting and, you know, will be valuable to people. So with that, I’ll introduce Pradeep. So hey Pradeep. Pradeep: Hey, hey Manny. Manuel: Appreciate you coming on. Pradeep: Yeah, thanks for having me. Manuel: Of course. And really, so what I’ve been doing with all of my guests is if you can just to start off, give us your current role and some of the, you know, just a summary of the responsibilities and then eventually we’ll kind of lead into how you got there. Pradeep: Yeah, absolutely. I’m founder and CEO at Tropoleap. We are a cloud AI and cybersecurity company. It’s been about close to 18 months since I started this company and have been working in the gaming industry, have been helping clients outside of the gaming industry, both in healthcare, financial services, so on and so forth. Manuel: So now let’s kind of go back and we’ll kind of lead into what eventually led you to kind of, you know, opening your own business, but really give me an understanding of kind of some of your background,

Episode Information Show Notes Career Downloads Episode 022: Jay Jackson Takes Us Through His Journey from Entry-Level Tech to Project Management Success In this episode, host Manuel Martinez welcomes Jay Jackson, a dynamic figure in the tech industry whose career spans sales, project management, consulting, and education. Jay opens up about his fascinating path that began at CompUSA and evolved into a successful career in project management and consulting. Jay shares how his early experience in video games shaped his approach to problem-solving and business challenges. He explains his innovative RAKSE framework for building a professional brand: Reputation: The foundation of career success Ability: Understanding and leveraging natural talents Knowledge: The role of formal education and continuous learning Skills: Transforming knowledge into practical capabilities Experience: Building a track record of successful implementations Key Discussion Points: Converting an entry-level cashier position into a springboard for tech career growth The natural progression from sales excellence to project management expertise Balancing teaching with consulting to stay current in technology Building and maintaining professional networks through authentic curiosity Real-world project management successes and lessons learned Listeners will gain valuable insights into: How to navigate career transitions effectively The importance of building and maintaining a professional reputation Strategies for continuous learning and skill development Practical approaches to project management The value of authentic networking and relationship building Connect with Jay Jackson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayjackson2/ Connect with Manuel Martinez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manuelmartinez-it/ Follow Career Downloads: Website: https://careerdownloads.com YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@careerdownloads X/Twitter https://twitter.com/@careerdownloads TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@careerdownloads LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/career-downloads Instagram https://www.instagram.com/careerdownloads FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/people/Career-Downloads/61561144531249 #CareerDownloads #TechCareers #ProjectManagement #ProfessionalDevelopment Transcript Manuel: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads. Where each episode, I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to really learn more about their career. To understand how they navigated it, different lessons that they’ve learned to really try and pull out actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. So, for today’s episode, I have with me Jay Jackson. So we have crossed paths on two different occasions. He has a very interesting background. He has done a number of things, different areas that we’ll touch on as we kind of go through the conversation. And I’ll let him explain that, kind of his ideas on professional branding, the different and things that he’s done, how he’s kind of navigated through different career choices and different roles. So with that, I’ll introduce Jay Jackson. Jay: Hey, Manny. Manuel: How you doing? Jay: Good to see you. Manuel: Good seeing you. Jay: Beautiful house here, Manny. Manuel: Thanks. Jay: I like the setup. Manuel: Took a little bit of work to kind of put it together, but I think overall it’s starting to look semi-professional. Jay: Starting to, right? Yeah I like it. Manuel: So what I’ve been doing with the guests is if you can just kind of start off, just give us your current role or position and then just kind of a summary of some of the responsibilities and things that you kind of do in those roles. Jay: So I’ve got a lot going on. So, you know, cut me off if I’m going the wrong direction. But right now I teach at a local college,

Episode Information Show Notes In this episode of Career Downloads, host Manuel Martinez sits down with Cynthia Hara, a successful cybersecurity sales executive, who shares her fascinating journey from aspiring fashion designer to thriving tech sales leader. Growing up in Silicon Valley with an engineer father, Cynthia initially planned a career in fashion design. A pivotal moment at a career fair changed her trajectory, leading her to discover opportunities in technology and sales. She openly shares how she turned what could have been seen as a disadvantage – being one of few women in her information systems classes – into a strategic career advantage. Cynthia provides practical insights on: Starting in tech sales with no prior experience Making the transition from cold calling to enterprise sales Building and maintaining professional relationships Negotiating salaries and benefits effectively Creating valuable business networks Establishing yourself as a trusted advisor Starting a non-profit to support women in tech A particularly valuable segment covers her approach to mentorship and coaching, explaining the crucial differences between the two and how to leverage both for career growth. Cynthia also discusses how she built her professional brand and shares strategies for standing out in a competitive field. This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in tech sales, career transitions, or professional development. Whether you’re just starting your career or looking to advance to the next level, Cynthia’s experiences and advice provide actionable insights you can implement today. Follow Career Downloads: Website: https://careerdownloads.com YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@careerdownloads X/Twitter https://twitter.com/@careerdownloads TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@careerdownloads LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/career-downloads Instagram https://www.instagram.com/careerdownloads FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/people/Career-Downloads/61561144531249 Connect with our host: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manuelmartinez-it/ Connect with our guest: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthiahara/ #CareerDownloads #TechSales #CareerAdvice #WomenInTech #ProfessionalDevelopment Transcript Manuel: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads, where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to learn more about their background, their experience, and just the different ways that they’ve managed their career, to really be able to pull out those actionable items for you that you can go ahead and implement as you’re managing your own career. So for today’s episode, I have with me Cynthia Hara and we met a few years ago. She is on the technology sales side and she’s done a lot of interesting side projects. There’s a lot of speaking that she’s done, so I think she brings a wealth of experience. Not everybody wants to do the hands-on keyboard, but she still is involved in technology, understands a lot of that and some of the business problems, so I think there’s a lot of good information that she’s going to provide to everybody. So with that, go ahead and plug in and download the knowledge and I will introduce Cynthia. Cynthia: Awesome, thank you so much for having me. Manuel: I appreciate you coming on. It’s definitely something that I think is of interest, so I’ve, you know, I think around the time that we met, I was also on the sales side, but I was on the sales engineer and, you know, you’re more on the account manager side, but definitely I think that you’re going to provide a lot of good information just in the conversations we’ve had, you know, indirectly and on our own. Cynthia: Awesome, well thank you. Manuel: So just to kind of, what I’ve been doing with everybody is if you just briefly tell me kind of what your current role is and some ...

Episode Information Show NotesFrom Project Manager to Tech Executive: Building a 20-Year Career Through Relationships & Change with Sheila Brewer-Richardson, Senior Director of Software Engineering at Fidelity National FinancialIn this compelling episode, Sheila Brewer-Richardson shares her inspiring 20+ year journey from project management to senior technology leadership. Her story illustrates how adaptability, continuous learning, and strong professional relationships can shape a successful career in tech.Sheila leads the software engineering teams at Fidelity National Financial, where she oversees both onshore and offshore development groups for their home warranty and disclosure source divisions. Her career path includes roles at major companies like Pacific Bell, Wells Fargo, and Allegiant Airlines, where she consistently drove innovation and built high-performing teams.During our conversation, Sheila opens up about:Her unconventional entry into technology through project managementTransitioning between different company cultures – from utilities to airlinesThe challenges and rewards of building global teamsCreating innovative employee development programsBalancing family life with career growthThe importance of finding and being a mentorHer brief but insightful career detour as a cardiac monitor technicianSheila’s leadership philosophy emphasizes open communication, continuous improvement, and the importance of helping others grow. Her journey demonstrates that success in technology comes not just from technical expertise, but from understanding people, processes, and having the courage to embrace new challenges.Connect with Sheila:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheila-brewer-richardson-a7b6127/About Career Downloads:Career Downloads features in-depth conversations with technology professionals who share their career journeys, challenges, and lessons learned. Host Manuel Martinez explores their stories to help listeners navigate their own paths in the tech industry.Connect with us:Website: https://careerdownloads.comYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@careerdownloads?sub_confirmation=1X/Twitter https://twitter.com/@careerdownloadsTikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@careerdownloadsLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/career-downloadsInstagram https://www.instagram.com/careerdownloadsFaceBook https://www.facebook.com/people/Career-Downloads/61561144531249#CareerDownloads #TechCareers #WomenInTech #SoftwareEngineering TranscriptionManuel: Welcome, everybody. My name is Manuel Martinez, and this is another episode of Career Downloads, where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to really learn more about their experiences, their backgrounds, and the way that they have managed their career over time with the ultimate goal to really be able to uncover any techniques, tips that they have encountered along the way that might be beneficial for you to go ahead and be able to implement yourself. So for today’s episode, I have with me Sheila Brewer Richardson, and her and I have worked together in the past for a little while, and she has kind of moved on. I followed her career over time and just seen the way that she has kind of managed her career and ascended over time. So I’m really excited to learn more about her career in general and the things that she’s done prior to us meeting and even afterwards. So with that, go ahead and plug in and download the knowledge. So hi, Sheila.Sheila: Hi, Manny. Thanks for having me.Manuel: Of course. I appreciate you coming on. So what I’ve been doing with everybody is just to kind of start, if you can just tell me what your current title or role is where you’re at now, and just a brief summary of kind of what your roles and responsibilities are.Sheila: So currently I am the Senior Director of Software Engineering for Fidelity National Financial. We have an IT team. The teams I have are both onshore and offshore.

Episode Information Show Notes In this engaging episode of Career Downloads, host Manuel Martinez sits down with Darius Roberts, CEO of UpliftSolar, to explore the fascinating intersection of software development, entrepreneurship, and solar technology innovation. About Our Guest: Darius Roberts leads multiple ventures in the solar technology space, including UpliftSolar.com, which is developing innovative solutions to expand solar panel accessibility. He also runs the Las Vegas Robotics Meetup (lvrobotics.org), bringing together industry leaders and local innovators in the robotics field. Episode Highlights: Early career insights and the value of taking calculated risks in your twenties How an unconventional aptitude test shaped crucial career decisions Transitioning from developer to technical lead to entrepreneur The story behind his early car-sharing startup (a precursor to modern services) Why Las Vegas is becoming an epicenter for robotics innovation The growing importance of AI literacy in tech careers Building and managing technical teams effectively Navigating the challenges of hardware vs. software startups Finding and working with the right mentors Key Takeaways: Understanding your strengths and working style is crucial for career success The value of being geographically flexible early in your career How to approach problem-solving across different industries The importance of balancing technical skills with business acumen Connect with Darius: UpliftSolar: [website] Las Vegas Robotics Meetup: lvrobotics.org #CareerDownloads #TechCareers #StartupLife #SolarTechnology #Innovation Follow Career Downloads: Website: https://careerdownloads.com YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@careerdownloads X/Twitter https://twitter.com/@careerdownloads TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@careerdownloads LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/career-downloads Instagram https://www.instagram.com/careerdownloads FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/people/Career-Downloads/61561144531249 Join us next week for another insightful conversation about navigating the evolving world of technology careers. Transcription Manuel: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to learn more about their career, different ways that they’ve managed it, how they’ve moved around, what ultimately led them to take different decisions with the ultimate goal to really help you understand and learn from others so that you can pick up different techniques and tips to manage your own career along the way. So with that for today’s episode, I have with me Darius Roberts and he is an entrepreneur, so he started his own business, but he also has kind of started one early on in his career. He’s also been a developer, he’s moved up into development lead roles. So with that, I’d like to welcome Darius. Darius: Thank you, Manny. Manuel: No problem. Thanks for coming along. I appreciate you coming on to kind of share some of your expertise and even just your experiences along the way. Darius: I’m excited to share my thoughts on how to know yourself, AI and ergonomics. Manuel: Awesome. And with that, what I’d like to do is if you could just do just a quick summary of kind of what your role is now and kind of some of those responsibilities and then we’ll kind of work backwards up to that point. Darius: Great. I’m in two different companies. One is my technology company, so I’m the CEO. It’s a new technology that will enable solar panels to be in more places. And that’s a subject for a whole different podcast, but UpliftSolar.com is our website and we are currently trying to put some pilot projects together. Separately, we have a more traditional looking solar company where we put solar panels on roofs. But from a technology standpoint,